Shloka 24

Adhyāya 160: Arjuna’s Envoy-Message—Critique of Borrowed Valor and Pre-dawn Mobilization

Devanagari script

अकत्थमानो युध्यस्व कत्थसेड<र्जुन कि बहु । पर्यायात्‌ सिद्धिरेतस्य नैतत्‌ सिध्यति कत्थनात्‌,“अर्जुन! बातें न बनाकर युद्ध करो। बहुत आत्मप्रशंसा क्‍यों करते हो? विभिन्न प्रकारोंसे युद्ध करनेपर ही राज्यकी सिद्धि हो सकती है। झूठी आत्मप्रशंसा करनेसे इस कार्यमें सफलता नहीं मिल सकती

Transliteration

akatthamāno yudhyasva katthaseḍ arjuna ki bahu | paryāyāt siddhir etasya naitat sidhyati katthanāt ||

Translation

Ulūka said: “Arjuna, stop boasting and fight. Why indulge in so much self-praise? Success in this enterprise—winning the kingdom—comes only through the actual course of battle and its changing tactics, not through empty bragging. Mere self-glorification does not bring accomplishment.”

Word by Word

• {'akatthamānaḥ': 'not boasting

• without self-praise', 'yudhyasva': 'fight! (imperative, 2nd person singular)', 'katthase': 'you boast

• you brag', 'arjuna': 'Arjuna (addressed directly)', 'kim bahu': 'why so much?

• what is the point of so many words?', 'paryāyāt': 'by the proper course/sequence

• through practical engagement (here: through actual modes of fighting)', 'siddhiḥ': 'success

• accomplishment', 'etasya': 'of this (undertaking/aim)', 'na etat sidhyati': 'this does not succeed

• this is not accomplished', 'katthanāt': 'from boasting

Speaker

उलूक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Ulūka
• Arjuna

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contrasts speech with action: real success—especially in a dharmic, martial context—comes from disciplined effort and effective engagement, not from self-advertising or verbal bravado.

What is happening in the narrative?

Ulūka addresses Arjuna in a taunting, confrontational tone, urging him to stop making claims and instead prove himself in battle, asserting that victory is achieved through fighting and strategy rather than boastful talk.