Shloka 2

उलूकदूतवाक्यम् / Ulūka’s Message to the Pāṇḍavas

Devanagari script

आकूतीनामधिपतिभोजस्यातियशस्विन: । दाक्षिणात्यपते: पुत्रो दिक्षु रुक्मीति विश्रुत:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं-जनमेजय! इसी समय अति यशस्वी दाक्षिणात्य देशके अधिपति भोजवंशी तथा इन्द्रके सखा हिरण्यरोमा नामवाले संकल्पोंके स्वामी महामना भीष्मकका सगा पुत्र, सम्पूर्ण दिशाओंमें विख्यात रुक्मी, पाण्डवोंके पास आया

Transliteration

ākūtīnām adhipatibhojasya atiyaśasvinaḥ | dākṣiṇātyapateḥ putro dikṣu rukmīti viśrutaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “O Janamejaya, at that very time there arrived among the Pāṇḍavas Rukmī—son of the exceedingly renowned Bhoja ruler, the sovereign of the southern country—celebrated in all directions by name and fame.”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'ākūtīnām', 'definition': 'of intentions/resolutions

• of purposeful designs (gen. pl.)'}, {'term': 'adhipati', 'definition': 'lord, ruler, overlord'}, {'term': 'bhojasya', 'definition': 'of the Bhoja (dynasty/king)'}, {'term': 'atiyaśasvin', 'definition': 'exceedingly famous, of great renown'}, {'term': 'dākṣiṇātya', 'definition': 'southern

• belonging to the Deccan/south'}, {'term': 'pati', 'definition': 'lord, master

• ruler'}, {'term': 'putra', 'definition': 'son'}, {'term': 'dikṣu', 'definition': 'in the directions

• everywhere'}, {'term': 'rukmī', 'definition': 'Rukmī (proper name

• famed prince)'}, {'term': 'viśruta', 'definition': 'well-known, widely renowned'}]

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Janamejaya
• Rukmī
• Bhoja (dynasty/king)
• Dākṣiṇātya-deśa (southern country)
• Pāṇḍavas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds royal reputation and public renown as forces that shape political movement: a widely known prince (Rukmī) enters the Pāṇḍavas’ sphere, hinting that fame, lineage, and regional power influence alliances and the unfolding of dharma-driven conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana reports to Janamejaya that Rukmī—son of a celebrated Bhoja ruler of the southern realm and famous in all directions—comes to the Pāṇḍavas, marking a new arrival in the Udyoga Parva’s preparations and negotiations before war.