Shloka 37
भीष्मस्य सेनापत्यप्रतिज्ञा तथा रथसंख्यावर्णनम् | Bhishma Accepts Command and Enumerates Kaurava Strength
नकुलस्तु ततो वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते । उलूक ब्रूहि कौरव्य॑ धार्तराष्ट्र सुयोधनम्,जनमेजय! तत्पश्चात् नकुलने भी इस प्रकार कहा--'उलूक! तू कुरुकुलकलंक धृतराष्ट्रपुत्र दुर्योधन-से कहना, तेरी कही हुई सारी बातें मैंने यथार्थरूपसे सुन लीं। कौरव! तू मुझे जैसा उपदेश दे रहा है, उसके अनुसार ही मैं सब कुछ करूँगा”
nakulas tu tato vākyam idam āha mahīpate | ulūka brūhi kauravya dhārtarāṣṭra suyodhanam |
Sañjaya said: Then Nakula spoke these words, O king: “Ulūka, go and tell Suyodhana, the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra—disgrace of the Kuru line—this: I have heard in full and understood the message you delivered. And, O Kaurava, I shall act accordingly.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethics of receiving an envoy’s message fully and responding with deliberate resolve. It also reflects the Kṣatriya emphasis on honor and accountability in speech: one listens, understands, and then acts in accordance with one’s chosen stance in a conflict.
In the Udyoga Parva’s pre-war exchanges, Ulūka has come as Duryodhana’s messenger. Nakula responds, instructing Ulūka to report back to Duryodhana that the message has been heard and that Nakula will act accordingly—signaling firm readiness as tensions move toward war.