Shloka 623
Ulūka’s Provocation and Keśava’s Counter-Message (उलूकदूत्ये केशवप्रत्युत्तरम्)
अद्येदानीं विजानीम: सन्ति षण्ढा: सशृज्भका: । “श्रीकृष्ण! मैं देखता हूँ संसारमें अकस्मात् ही तुम्हारा महान् यश फैल गया है; परंतु अब इस समय हमें मालूम हुआ है कि जो लोग तुम्हारे पूजक हैं
adyedānīṃ vijānīmaḥ santi ṣaṇḍhāḥ saśṛjbhakāḥ |
Sanjaya berkata: “Baru sekarang kami mengerti: memang ada laki-laki tak berdaya—sekadar penyamar. Wahai Śrī Kṛṣṇa, kulihat kemasyhuranmu yang besar tiba-tiba telah menyebar ke seluruh dunia; namun kini kami tahu bahwa mereka yang mengaku sebagai pemujamu, sesungguhnya hanyalah banci yang sekadar mengenakan tanda lahiriah kelelakian.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse illustrates how political speech can weaponize shame and gendered insult to undermine opponents and their loyalties; ethically, it highlights the corrosive effect of contemptuous rhetoric in escalating conflict.
Sañjaya reports a cutting remark that contrasts Kṛṣṇa’s widespread fame with a denunciation of certain self-proclaimed devotees as cowardly pretenders, using the term ṣaṇḍha as an insult to question their courage and sincerity.