Shloka 13
Ulūka’s Provocation and Keśava’s Counter-Message (उलूकदूत्ये केशवप्रत्युत्तरम्)
श्रूयते हि पुरा गीत: श्लोको5यं भरतर्षभ । प्रह्मदेनाथ भद्रें ते हृते राज्ये तु दैवतैः
śrūyate hi purā gītaḥ śloko ’yaṃ bharatarṣabha | prahrādenātha bhadraṃ te hṛte rājye tu daivataiḥ ||
ସଞ୍ଜୟ କହିଲେ—ହେ ଭରତଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ! ପୁରାତନ କାଳରୁ ଏହି ଶ୍ଲୋକ ଗୀତ ହୋଇଆସୁଛି ବୋଲି ଶୁଣାଯାଏ। ଦେବତାମାନେ ପ୍ରହ୍ଲାଦଙ୍କ ରାଜ୍ୟ ହରଣ କରିଥିବାବେଳେ, ସେ ‘ତୁମର ମଙ୍ଗଳ ହେଉ’ ବୋଲି ଏହି କଥା କହିଥିଲେ।
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a traditional exemplum: even when sovereignty is lost by forces beyond one’s control (here, the gods), a righteous person like Prahlāda responds with composed speech and auspicious intent, implying steadiness, non-despair, and adherence to dharma amid reversals.
Sañjaya introduces an old, well-known śloka, saying it was sung long ago by Prahlāda at the moment his kingdom was taken away by the gods; this serves as a precedent to illuminate the present political crisis in the Udyoga Parva.