Shloka 5
Ulūka’s Provocation and Keśava’s Counter-Message (उलूकदूत्ये केशवप्रत्युत्तरम्)
सम्भाषित्वा च कर्ण क्रात्रा द:ःशासनेन च । सौबलेन च राजेन्द्र मन्त्रयित्वा नरर्षभ
sambhāṣitvā ca karṇa krātrā duḥśāsanena ca | saubalena ca rājendra mantrayitvā nararṣabha
Sañjaya berkata: Setelah berbicara dengan Karṇa, dengan Kṛpa, dengan Duḥśāsana, dan juga dengan Śakuni putera Subala, wahai insan terbaik, raja (Duryodhana) pun bermusyawarah—menghimpunkan para penyokong utamanya untuk menimbang haluan yang akan membentuk perang yang bakal tiba serta akibat moralnya.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how pivotal decisions are shaped by one’s chosen advisers: counsel taken from those driven by ambition and hostility can steer a ruler toward adharma and war, whereas ethical discernment requires seeking guidance aligned with righteousness.
Sañjaya reports to Dhṛtarāṣṭra that the Kaurava leadership—Karna, Kripa, Duḥśāsana, and Śakuni—have been consulted, indicating strategic deliberation within Duryodhana’s camp as tensions move toward open conflict.