Shloka 66
Ulūka’s Provocation and Keśava’s Counter-Message (उलूकदूत्ये केशवप्रत्युत्तरम्)
बललवो नाम विख्यातस्तन्ममैव हि पौरुषम् | 'उलूक! उस बिना मूँछोंके मर्द (अथवा बोझ ढोनेवाले बैल), अधिक खानेवाले, अज्ञानी और मूर्ख भीमसेनसे भी बारंबार मेरा यह संदेश कहना “कुन्तीकुमार! पहले विराटनगरमें जो तू रसोइया बनकर रहा और बललवके नामसे विख्यात हुआ, वह सब मेरा ही पुरुषार्थ था ।।
balalavo nāma vikhyātas tan mamaiva hi pauruṣam | pratijñātaṃ bhāma-dhye na tan mithyā tvayā purā, duḥśāsanasya rudhiraṃ pīyatāṃ yadi śakyate ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Engkau termasyhur dengan nama ‘Ballava’—itu pun sesungguhnya karena keperkasaanku. Dan sumpah yang dahulu kau ucapkan di tengah sidang jangan sampai menjadi dusta karenamu; bila kau punya daya, datanglah dan minumlah darah Duḥśāsana.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how vows and honor can be weaponized through taunts, pushing a person toward extreme acts. It foregrounds the ethical strain in the epic: keeping one’s word is valued, yet the content of a vow—especially one rooted in rage—can intensify adharma and cruelty.
A hostile message is being relayed that mocks Bhima’s earlier disguise as ‘Ballava’ in Virata’s city and challenges him to fulfill his famous assembly-vow by drinking Duhshasana’s blood. The rhetoric is meant to provoke Bhima and inflame the conflict on the eve of war.