Shloka 103

Ulūka’s Provocation and Keśava’s Counter-Message (उलूकदूत्ये केशवप्रत्युत्तरम्)

Devanagari script

प्राच्यै: प्रतीच्यैरथ दाक्षिणात्यै- रुदीच्यकाम्बोजशकै: खशैश्न । शाल्वै: समत्स्यै: कुरुमध्यदेश्यै- म्लेच्छै: पुलिन्दैर्द्रविडान्ध्रकाउचयै:

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

prācyaiḥ pratīcyair atha dākṣiṇātyair

udīcyakāmbojaśakaiḥ khaśaiś ca |

śālvaiḥ samatsyaiḥ kurumadhyadeśyaiḥ

mlecchaiḥ pulindair draviḍāndhrakāñcyaiḥ ||

Translation

संजय बोले— उस कौरव-सेना की रक्षा पूर्व, पश्चिम, दक्षिण और उत्तर के नरेश करते हैं; काम्बोज, शक और खश; शाल्व तथा मत्स्य; कुरु और मध्यदेश के योद्धा; और सीमांत के म्लेच्छ-पुलिन्द, साथ ही द्रविड़, आन्ध्र और कांचीदेशीय वीर—सब ओर से उसे घेरे हुए हैं।

Word by Word

• प्राच्यैः: by the eastern (kings/people)
• प्राच्यैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राच्य
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• प्रतीच्यैः: by the western (kings/people)
• प्रतीच्यैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतीच्य
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• अथ: and then / also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• दाक्षिणात्यैः: by the southern (kings/people)
• दाक्षिणात्यैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दाक्षिणात्य
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• उदीच्यैः: by the northern (kings/people)
• उदीच्यैः: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदीच्य
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• काम्बोजैः: by the Kambojas
• काम्बोजैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम्बोज
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• शकैः: by the Śakas
• शकैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• खशैः: by the Khaśas
• खशैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: खश
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• शाल्वैः: by the Śālvas
• शाल्वैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाल्व
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• समत्स्यैः: together with the Matsyas / by the Matsyas as well
• समत्स्यैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• कुरुमध्यदेश्यैः: by those of the Kuru-Madhyadeśa (central Kuru region)
• कुरुमध्यदेश्यैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुरुमध्यदेश्य
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• म्लेच्छैः: by the Mlecchas (foreigners/barbarians)
• म्लेच्छैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: म्लेच्छ
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• पुलिन्दैः: by the Pulindas
• पुलिन्दैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुलिन्द
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• द्रविडैः: by the Dravidas
• द्रविडैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रविड
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• आन्ध्रकैः: by the Āndhrakas/Andhras
• आन्ध्रकैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आन्ध्रक
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• औचयैः: by the Oucayas (people of Oucaya/region; reading uncertain)
• औचयैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: औचय
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Prācya (eastern kings/peoples)
• Pratīcya (western kings/peoples)
• Dākṣiṇātya (southern kings/peoples)
• Udīcya (northern kings/peoples)
• Kāmboja
• Śaka
• Khaśa
• Śālva
• Matsya
• Kuru
• Madhyadeśa
• Mleccha
• Pulinda
• Draviḍa
• Āndhra
• Kāñcī

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores strategic realism: strength in war arises from broad alliances and disciplined organization. Ethically, it cautions against arrogance or underestimation of an opponent, emphasizing sober assessment before choosing a course of action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya is describing the vast, multi-regional composition of the Kaurava forces, listing allied peoples from all directions to convey that the Kaurava army is well-protected, cohesive, and difficult to defeat.