Shloka 17

उलूकदूतवाक्यम् / Ulūka’s Message to the Pāṇḍavas

Devanagari script

ततः स कवच धन्वी तली खड़्गी शरासनी

Transliteration

tataḥ sa kavaca-dhanvī talī khaḍgī śarāsanī

Translation

Alors il apparut tout équipé pour la bataille—cuirassé, portant l’arc, ceint du baudrier, l’épée à la main, pourvu d’un carquois et de tout l’attirail de l’archer—signe de sa préparation au conflit à venir et du tournant grave des événements.

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (no gender/case/number)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• कवचधन्वी: armoured and bow-bearing
• कवचधन्वी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कवचधन्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• तली: bearing a shield (or palm-guard)
• तली: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• खड्गी: sword-bearing
• खड्गी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खड्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• शरासनी: having a bow (lit. arrow-seat)
• शरासनी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरासनिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• kavaca (armour)
• dhanus (bow)
• khaḍga (sword)
• tala (weapon-belt)
• śara (arrows)
• āsana/śarāsana (bow-gear/quiver context)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the ethical gravity of entering conflict: taking up arms is not casual display but a deliberate assumption of responsibility, signalling readiness to act within one’s role (especially kṣatriya-duty) amid an escalating crisis.

What is happening in the narrative?

A male figure is described as fully armed—armour, bow, sword, belt, and arrows—marking a shift from counsel or preparation into imminent action, as the Udyoga Parva moves toward the outbreak of war.