Shloka 10
Ulūka’s Provocation and Keśava’s Counter-Message (उलूकदूत्ये केशवप्रत्युत्तरम्)
ज्येष्ठं तथैव कौन्तेयं ब्रूयास्त्वं वचनान्मम,उलूक! तुम मेरे कहनेसे कुन्तीके ज्येष्ठ पुत्र युधिष्ठिरके सामने जाकर इस प्रकार कहना --
jyeṣṭhaṃ tathaiva kaunteyaṃ brūyās tvaṃ vacanān mama, ulūka! tvaṃ mere kahane se kuntī-ke jyeṣṭha putra yudhiṣṭhira ke sāmane jākar isa prakāra kahanā --
Sañjaya disse: “Ó Ulūka, deves repetir minha mensagem exatamente. Vai à presença de Yudhiṣṭhira, o filho mais velho de Kuntī, e fala-lhe desta maneira.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores fidelity in communication: an envoy must convey a message precisely as instructed, since words can shape ethical judgment and political outcomes on the brink of war.
Sañjaya instructs Ulūka to go to Yudhiṣṭhira and deliver a prepared message, framing the formal exchange of words that precedes and influences the escalating conflict.