Shloka 43

Ulūka’s Provocation and Keśava’s Counter-Message (उलूकदूत्ये केशवप्रत्युत्तरम्)

Devanagari script

अन्यथा किल ते वाक्यमन्यथा कर्म दृश्यते । दम्भनार्थाय लोकस्य वेदाश्लोपशमश्न ते,“तुम्हारी बातें तो कुछ और हैं; परंतु कर्म कुछ और ही ढंगका दिखायी देता है। तुम्हारा वेदाध्ययन और शान्त स्वभाव लोगोंको दिखानेके लिये पाखण्डमात्र है

Transliteration

anyathā kila te vākyam anyathā karma dṛśyate | dambhanārthāya lokasya vedāślopśamam aśnute ||

Translation

サンジャヤは言った。「おまえの言葉は一つの姿をしているが、行いは別の姿として現れている。ヴェーダの学びも、見せかけの静けさも、世人を欺き惑わすための偽りにすぎぬ。」

Word by Word

अन्यथाotherwise, differently

किलindeed, it is said

तेof you/your

वाक्यम्speech, statement

अन्यथाotherwise, differently

कर्मaction, deed

दृश्यतेis seen, appears

दम्भनार्थायfor the purpose of deception/ostentation

लोकस्यof the people/world

वेदाःthe Vedas (Vedic studies/recitations)

श्लोपशमःrecitation and calmness (as a pair)

अश्नतेhe eats/enjoys/appropriates

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

loka (the people/world)

Veda

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Ethical integrity is measured by alignment between speech and conduct; outward displays of learning and serenity, if used to mislead society, become dambha (hypocritical show) rather than dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya reports a sharp moral critique: the addressed person is accused of speaking piously while acting differently, using Vedic study and a calm demeanor as a public-facing mask to influence or deceive others.