Shloka 20
Adhyāya 160: Arjuna’s Envoy-Message—Critique of Borrowed Valor and Pre-dawn Mobilization
कि दर्दुरः कूपशयो यथेमां न बुध्यसे राजचमूं समेताम् । दुराधर्षा देवचमूप्रकाशां गुप्तां नरेन्द्रैस्त्रिदशैरिव द्याम्ू
kiṁ darduraḥ kūpaśayo yathemāṁ na budhyase rājacamūṁ sametām | durādharṣā devacamūprakāśāṁ guptāṁ narendrais tridāśair iva dyām ||
Ulūka berkata: “Mengapa engkau, seperti katak di dasar perigi, gagal memahami bala tentera diraja yang berhimpun ini? Ia sukar ditembusi, bersinar laksana tentera para dewa, dan dilindungi oleh raja-raja—sebagaimana langit dilindungi oleh Tiga Puluh Tiga dewa.”
उलूक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses the 'frog in a well' image to criticize narrow perception and overconfidence born of limited experience; it urges a realistic appraisal of power and circumstances, warning that ignorance of the wider world leads to poor judgment in conflict.
Ulūka taunts his opponent by praising the assembled royal host as nearly invincible, comparing its protection by kings to heaven being guarded by the Thirty-three gods, thereby attempting to intimidate and assert the Kaurava side’s strength.