Shloka 94

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

Devanagari script

असमागम्य भीष्मेण संयुगे कि विकत्थसे । आरुरुक्षुर्यथा मन्द: पर्वतं गन्धमादनम्‌

Transliteration

asamāgamya bhīṣmeṇa saṃyuge kiṃ vikatthase | ārurukṣur yathā mandaḥ parvataṃ gandhamādanam ||

Translation

サञ्जयは言った。「戦場でビ―シュマと面と向かってもいないのに、なぜ誇り立つのか。汝は、愚鈍な者がガンダマーダナ山に登ろうとするようなものだ。」

Word by Word

• असमागम्य: without encountering / without coming to (meet)
• असमागम्य: Apadana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अ-समागम्य (सम् + आ + √गम्)
• Form: Absolutive (त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable; sense: having not met/approached

• भीष्मेण: by Bhīṣma
• भीष्मेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• संयुगे: in battle
• संयुगे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयुग
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative, Singular

• किम्: why / how
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम्
• Form: Interrogative particle used adverbially

• विकत्थसे: do you boast
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + √कथ् (कथ्/कथय्) → विकत्थ (आत्मनेपदी प्रयोगः)
• Form: Present, 2nd person, Singular, Ātmanepada

• आरुरुक्षुः: one wishing to climb
• आरुरुक्षुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ + √रुह् (रुह्) → आरुरुक्षु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular (desiderative agent noun: 'wishing to climb')

• यथा: as / like
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा
• Form: Comparative particle

• मन्दः: a dull/weak (person)
• मन्दः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मन्द
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पर्वतम्: mountain
• पर्वतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्वत
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• गन्धमादनम्: Gandhamādana (mountain)
• गन्धमादनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धमादन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular (proper name of a mountain)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Bhīṣma
• Gandhamādana (mountain)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Boasting without proven capability is ethically hollow; true kṣatriya worth is demonstrated through actual encounter and performance in battle, not mere speech.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya delivers a sharp rebuke, mocking someone’s bravado by pointing out that they have not even confronted Bhīṣma in combat, comparing their claim to the futile attempt of a foolish person trying to scale the formidable Gandhamādana mountain.