Shloka 48
Pāṇḍava-senā-niryāṇa and Vyūha-vibhāga (पाण्डवसेनानिर्याण तथा व्यूहविभाग)
उलूकं॑ भरतश्रेष्ठ सामपूर्वमथोर्जितम् । दुर्योधनस्य तद् वाक््यं निशम्य भरतर्षभ:,भरतश्रेष्ठ जनमेजय! इस प्रकार युधिष्ठिरने उलूकसे पहले मधुर वचन बोलकर फिर ओजस्वी शब्दोंमें उत्तर दिया। (उलूकके मुखसे) पहले दुर्योधनके पूर्वोक्त संदेशको सुनकर भरतकुलभूषण युधिष्छिर रोषसे अत्यन्त लाल हुए नेत्रोंद्वारा देखते हुए विषधर सर्पके समान उच्छवास लेने लगे। फिर ओठोंके दोनों कोनोंको चाटते हुए वे श्रीकृष्ण तथा भाइयोंकी ओर देखकर बोलनेको प्रस्तुत हुए। वे अपनी विशाल भुजा ऊपर उठा धूर्त जुआरी शकुनिके पुत्र उलूकसे मुसकराते हुए-से बोले---
sañjaya uvāca | ulūkaṃ bharataśreṣṭha sāmapūrvam athorjitam | duryodhanasya tad vākyaṃ niśamya bharatarṣabhaḥ ||
Sanjaya said: O best of the Bharatas, Yudhiṣṭhira first addressed Ulūka with sweet, conciliatory words, and then replied with forceful speech. Hearing Duryodhana’s message from Ulūka’s mouth, that bull of the Bharata line flared inwardly—his eyes reddened with anger, he breathed like a venomous serpent, and he licked the corners of his lips. Looking toward Śrī Kṛṣṇa and his brothers, he raised his mighty arm and spoke to Ulūka, Shakuni’s son, with a smile that scarcely concealed his wrath.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical progression from conciliation (sāma) to firm, forceful response when injustice persists. It suggests that righteous leaders attempt peaceful persuasion first, but when the opponent’s message confirms obstinacy and wrongdoing, moral clarity may require resolute speech and readiness to uphold dharma.
Uluka arrives as Duryodhana’s messenger. After hearing the Kaurava message, Yudhishthira—though initially speaking politely—becomes visibly enraged, like a serpent ready to strike. He looks to Krishna and his brothers, raises his arm, and prepares to answer Uluka, indicating a turning point where negotiations harden toward conflict.