Shloka 23

उलूकदूतवाक्यम् / Ulūka’s Message to the Pāṇḍavas

Devanagari script

अपि द्रोणकृपौ वीरौ भीष्मकर्णावथो पुन: । अथवा सर्व एवैते तिष्ठन्तु वसुधाधिपा:

Transliteration

api droṇakṛpau vīrau bhīṣmakarṇāv atho punaḥ | athavā sarva evaite tiṣṭhantu vasudhādhipāḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: “Let the two heroes Droṇa and Kṛpa stand (there); and again, Bhīṣma and Karṇa as well. Or else, let all these kings, lords of the earth, remain present.”

Word by Word

अपिalso/even

द्रोणDrona

कृपौKripa (two persons implied by dual form)

वीरौtwo heroes

भीष्मBhishma

कर्णौKarna (dual form used in coordination)

अथोand then/and also

पुनःagain/further

अथवाor else/alternatively

सर्वेall

एवindeed/just

एतेthese

तिष्ठन्तुlet (them) stand/remain

वसुधाof the earth

अधिपाःlords/rulers

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Droṇa

Kṛpa

Bhīṣma

Karṇa

vasudhādhipāḥ (kings)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the weight of counsel and decision-making in times of crisis: when eminent elders and master-warriors are present, their standing (presence and authority) lends legitimacy and gravity to deliberations that will shape the course of war and dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates a moment of arranging or calling for the presence of leading Kuru-side figures—Droṇa, Kṛpa, Bhīṣma, and Karṇa—suggesting an assembly or formal setting where key rulers and commanders are to remain in place for consultation or decision.