Shloka 69
Ulūka’s Provocation and Keśava’s Counter-Message (उलूकदूत्ये केशवप्रत्युत्तरम्)
क्व युद्ध क्व च भोक्तव्यं युध्यस्व पुरुषो भव । 'भारत! तुम निरे भोजनभट्ट हो। अत: अधिक खाने-पीनेमें पुरस्कार पानेके योग्य हो। किंतु कहाँ युद्ध और कहाँ भोजन? शक्ति हो तो युद्ध करो और मर्द बनो || ६८ ई || शयिष्यसे हतो भूमौ गदामालिड्ग्य भारत
kva yuddha kva ca bhoktavyaṃ yudhyasva puruṣo bhava | śayiṣyase hato bhūmau gadām āliṅgya bhārata ||
Sañjaya berkata: “Apa hubungan perang dengan pesta santap? Jika kau punya kekuatan, bertarunglah—jadilah lelaki sejati. Jika tidak, wahai Bhārata, engkau akan tergeletak tewas di bumi, masih memeluk gada.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts indulgence with a warrior’s duty: a Kṣatriya must choose courage and action in battle rather than comfort-seeking; otherwise disgrace and death follow.
Sañjaya reports a taunting exhortation addressed to a Kuru warrior: he is urged to stop thinking of eating and pleasure, to fight like a man, and warned that failure will end with him slain on the battlefield, still gripping his mace.