Ulūka’s Provocation and Keśava’s Counter-Message (उलूकदूत्ये केशवप्रत्युत्तरम्)
असमागम्य भीष्मेण संयुगे कि विकत्थसे । आरुरुक्षुर्यथा मन्द: पर्वतं गन्धमादनम्
asamāgamya bhīṣmeṇa saṃyuge kiṃ vikatthase | ārurukṣur yathā mandaḥ parvataṃ gandhamādanam ||
ਸੰਜਯ ਬੋਲਿਆ— ਯੁੱਧ ਵਿੱਚ ਭੀਸ਼ਮ ਦੇ ਸਾਹਮਣੇ ਆਏ ਬਿਨਾਂ ਹੀ ਤੂੰ ਕਿਉਂ ਸ਼ੇਖੀ ਮਾਰਦਾ ਹੈਂ? ਤੂੰ ਤਾਂ ਉਸ ਮੰਦਬੁੱਧੀ ਵਰਗਾ ਹੈਂ ਜੋ ਗੰਧਮਾਦਨ ਪਹਾੜ ਚੜ੍ਹਨ ਤੁਰ ਪਏ।
संजय उवाच
Boasting without proven capability is ethically hollow; true kṣatriya worth is demonstrated through actual encounter and performance in battle, not mere speech.
Sañjaya delivers a sharp rebuke, mocking someone’s bravado by pointing out that they have not even confronted Bhīṣma in combat, comparing their claim to the futile attempt of a foolish person trying to scale the formidable Gandhamādana mountain.