Shloka 51
Ulūka’s Provocation and Keśava’s Counter-Message (उलूकदूत्ये केशवप्रत्युत्तरम्)
किं नु युद्धात् परं लाभ क्षत्रियो बहु मन्यते । किं च त्वं क्षत्रियकुले जात: सम्प्रथितो भुवि
kiṁ nu yuddhāt paraṁ lābhaṁ kṣatriyo bahu manyate | kiṁ ca tvaṁ kṣatriyakule jātaḥ samprathito bhuvi |
Sañjaya berkata: “Keuntungan apa yang dianggap seorang kṣatriya lebih besar daripada pertempuran? Lagipula, engkau pun lahir dalam wangsa kesatria dan telah termasyhur di muka bumi ini.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse appeals to kṣatriya-dharma: for a warrior, battle undertaken as duty is viewed as the highest ‘gain,’ tied to honor and the maintenance of social order; personal fame and lineage are invoked to strengthen resolve.
Sañjaya frames an exhortation by reminding the addressed warrior that no advantage surpasses righteous battle for a kṣatriya, and that the person addressed is already celebrated on earth due to birth in a renowned warrior line.