Shloka 22
Adhyāya 160: Arjuna’s Envoy-Message—Critique of Borrowed Valor and Pre-dawn Mobilization
नानाजनीघं युधि सम्प्रवृद्धं गाड़ं यथा वेगमपारणीयम् | मां च स्थितं नागबलस्य मध्ये युयुत्ससे मन्द किमल्पबुद्धे,“अल्पबुद्धि मूढ़ युधिष्ठिर! जिसका वेग युद्धकालमें गंगाके वेगके समान बढ़ जाता है और जिसे पार करना असम्भव है, नाना प्रकारके जनसमुदायसे भरी हुई मेरी उस विशाल वाहिनीके साथ तथा गजसेनाके बीचमें खड़े हुए मुझ दुर्योधनके साथ भी तुम युद्धकी इच्छा कैसे रखते हो?”
nānājanīghaṃ yudhi sampravṛddhaṃ gāḍhaṃ yathā vegam apāraṇīyam | māṃ ca sthitaṃ nāgabalasya madhye yuyutsase manda kim alpabuddhe ||
Wahai Yudhiṣṭhira yang tumpul dan kecil budi! Di medan perang, bala tentaraku yang besar—padat oleh beragam rakyat—mengembang laksana banjir arus Gaṅgā, mustahil diseberangi. Dan dengan aku, Duryodhana, berdiri di tengah kekuatan korps gajah, bagaimana mungkin engkau masih menginginkan perang?
उलूक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts two bases for action: intimidation through sheer military might versus the dharmic evaluation of war. Ulūka’s rhetoric treats power and numbers as decisive, but the epic repeatedly shows that adharma-backed force is not a reliable measure of rightness or ultimate outcome.
Ulūka, acting as a Kaurava messenger, delivers a provocative message meant to demoralize the Pāṇḍavas. He boasts that the Kaurava host is like an uncrossable flood and highlights the elephant corps and Duryodhana’s position, mocking the opponent’s resolve to fight.