Shloka 1
Adhyāya 160: Arjuna’s Envoy-Message—Critique of Borrowed Valor and Pre-dawn Mobilization
संजय कहते हैं--राजन्! तदनन्तर जुआ री शकुनिका पुत्र उलूक पाण्डवोंकी छावनीमें जाकर उनसे मिला और युधिष्ठिरसे इस प्रकार बोला--
sañjaya uvāca—rājan! tadanantaraṃ dyūtakṛt śakunikāputra ulūkaḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ chāvanīṃ gatvā taiḥ samāgacchat, yudhiṣṭhiraṃ caivam uvāca—
Sanjaya berkata: “Wahai Raja! Sesudah itu, Uluka, putera Shakuni—yang pernah berperanan dalam peristiwa perjudian—pergi ke perkemahan para Pandava dan bertemu mereka. Lalu dia berbicara kepada Yudhishthira dengan cara demikian, memulakan suatu pesanan yang bertujuan menguji keteguhan hati serta membangkitkan ketegangan dharma menjelang perang.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a morally charged diplomatic encounter: those tied to adharma (the dice-game) now approach the dharmic king Yudhishthira, highlighting how speech and envoys can be used to provoke conflict and test restraint before war.
After prior events, Uluka—Shakuni’s son—goes to the Pandavas’ military camp, meets them, and begins speaking to Yudhishthira, introducing a message or challenge that will shape the ensuing confrontation.