Shloka 186

उलूकदूतवाक्यम् / Ulūka’s Message to the Pāṇḍavas

Devanagari script

युधिष्ठिरस्तु तं राजा प्रत्युद्गम्याभ्यपूजयत्‌ । वह वसुदेवनन्दन भगवान्‌ श्रीकृष्णका प्रिय करनेकी इच्छासे आया था। पाण्डवोंको उसके आगमनकी सूचना दी गयी, तब राजा युधिष्ठिरने आगे बढ़कर उसकी अगवानी की और उसका यथायोग्य आदर-सत्कार किया

Transliteration

yudhiṣṭhiras tu taṃ rājā pratyudgamyābhyapūjayat |

Translation

Vaiśaṃpāyana said: King Yudhiṣṭhira went forward to meet him and received him with due honor. The scene underscores the dharmic etiquette of welcoming a revered guest—especially one regarded as a benefactor and guide—through respectful approach, hospitality, and fitting reverence.

Word by Word

• युधिष्ठिरः: Yudhiṣṭhira
• युधिष्ठिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: युधिष्ठिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रत्युद्गम्य: having gone forth to meet (him)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-उद्-गम् (धातु) + ल्यप्
• Form: ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययार्थक अव्यय), Active (कर्तरि प्रयोग), Non-finite (absolutive)

• अभ्यपूजयत्: honoured / paid respect to
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-पूज् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Yudhiṣṭhira

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic protocol: a righteous ruler does not wait to be approached but goes forward to receive an honored visitor, offering appropriate respect and hospitality (satkāra) as a moral duty.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Udyoga Parva setting of negotiations and impending conflict, Yudhiṣṭhira advances to meet the arriving person and formally honors him, signaling reverence and readiness to engage in counsel or diplomacy.