Shloka 7
उलूकदूतवाक्यम् / Ulūka’s Message to the Pāṇḍavas
ट्रुमाद् रुक्मी महातेजा विजयं प्रत्यपद्यत । संछिद्य मौरवान् पाशान् निहत्य मुरमोजसा
trumād rukmī mahātejā vijayaṁ pratyapadyata | saṁchidya mauravān pāśān nihatya muram ojasā ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Kemudian Rukmī yang bersinar gagah itu meraih kembali kemenangan. Dengan memutuskan ikatan yang dipasang oleh pihak Kaurava, dia menewaskan Mura dengan kekuatan semata-mata.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a kṣatriya ideal: steadfast energy and decisive action can break imposed restraints and reverse misfortune. Ethically, it reflects the Mahābhārata’s recurring tension between force and rightful order—victory is portrayed as regained through personal vigor, yet it occurs within a wider moral crisis that the Udyoga Parva is building toward.
Vaiśaṃpāyana reports that Rukmī, described as highly radiant, recovers victory by cutting through the Kauravas’ nooses/bonds and then slaying a figure named Mura through sheer strength.