Shloka 24

Adhyāya 160: Arjuna’s Envoy-Message—Critique of Borrowed Valor and Pre-dawn Mobilization

Devanagari script

अकत्थमानो युध्यस्व कत्थसेड<र्जुन कि बहु । पर्यायात्‌ सिद्धिरेतस्य नैतत्‌ सिध्यति कत्थनात्‌

Transliteration

akatthamāno yudhyasva katthaseḍ arjuna ki bahu | paryāyāt siddhir etasya naitat sidhyati katthanāt ||

Translation

ਅਰਜੁਨ! ਸ਼ੇਖ਼ੀ ਛੱਡ ਕੇ ਲੜ। ਇੰਨੀ ਆਪਣੀ ਵਡਿਆਈ ਕਿਉਂ? ਇਸ ਕੰਮ ਦੀ ਸਿੱਧੀ ਤਾਂ ਜੰਗ ਦੇ ਦੌਰ ਅਤੇ ਬਦਲਦੀਆਂ ਚਾਲਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ; ਖਾਲੀ ਡੀਂਗਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਨਹੀਂ।

Word by Word

• {'akatthamānaḥ': 'not boasting

• without self-praise', 'yudhyasva': 'fight! (imperative, 2nd person singular)', 'katthase': 'you boast

• you brag', 'arjuna': 'Arjuna (addressed directly)', 'kim bahu': 'why so much?

• what is the point of so many words?', 'paryāyāt': 'by the proper course/sequence

• through practical engagement (here: through actual modes of fighting)', 'siddhiḥ': 'success

• accomplishment', 'etasya': 'of this (undertaking/aim)', 'na etat sidhyati': 'this does not succeed

• this is not accomplished', 'katthanāt': 'from boasting

Speaker

उलूक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Ulūka
• Arjuna

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contrasts speech with action: real success—especially in a dharmic, martial context—comes from disciplined effort and effective engagement, not from self-advertising or verbal bravado.

What is happening in the narrative?

Ulūka addresses Arjuna in a taunting, confrontational tone, urging him to stop making claims and instead prove himself in battle, asserting that victory is achieved through fighting and strategy rather than boastful talk.