Shloka 196

उलूकदूतवाक्यम् / Ulūka’s Message to the Pāṇḍavas

Devanagari script

प्रतिगृह्य तु तान्‌ सर्वान्‌ विश्रान्त: सहसैनिक:ः । पाण्डवोंने रुक्मीका विधिपूर्वक आदर-सत्कार करके उसकी भूरि-भूरि प्रशंसा की। रुक्मीने भी उन सबको प्रेमपूर्वक अपनाकर सैनिकोंसहित विश्राम किया

Transliteration

pratigṛhya tu tān sarvān viśrāntaḥ sahasainikaḥ |

Translation

Vaiśampāyana dit : Les ayant tous reçus comme il convenait, Rukmī—avec ses troupes—prit du repos. Les Pāṇḍava, selon l’usage prescrit, l’honorèrent par une hospitalité respectueuse et le louèrent abondamment ; et Rukmī, les accueillant avec affection, demeura en repos avec ses soldats.

Word by Word

• प्रतिगृह्य: having received/accepted
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-ग्रह्
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपद-भाव (gerundial, voice-neutral in usage), non-finite

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• तान्: those (them)
• तान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• विश्रान्तः: rested; having taken rest
• विश्रान्तः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-श्रान्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle) used adjectivally

• सह: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह

• सैनिकैः: with soldiers
• सैनिकैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैनिक
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Pāṇḍavas
• Rukmī
• soldiers/army (sainika)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even in politically tense moments, dharma is upheld through proper reception and hospitality: honoring a guest with prescribed respect preserves social order, dignity, and ethical conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Rukmī arrives with his troops; the Pāṇḍavas receive him formally and praise him, and after accepting their welcome he rests along with his soldiers.