Shloka 35
Adhyāya 160: Arjuna’s Envoy-Message—Critique of Borrowed Valor and Pre-dawn Mobilization
न भयाद् वासुदेवस्य न चापि तव फाल्गुन । राज्यं प्रतिप्रदास्पामि युद्धयस्व सहकेशव:,'फाल्गुन! श्रीकृष्णके या तुम्हारे भयसे मैं राज्य नहीं लौटाऊँगा। तुम श्रीकृष्णके साथ आकर युद्ध करो
na bhayād vāsudevasya na cāpi tava phālguna | rājyaṃ pratipradāsyāmi yudhyasva sahakeśavaḥ ||
न भयाद् वासुदेवस्य न चापि तव फाल्गुन । राज्यं प्रतिप्रदास्यामि युद्ध्यस्व सहकेशवः ॥
उलूक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how adharma often masks itself as courage: refusing to restore a rightful kingdom is presented as fearlessness. Ethically, it contrasts arrogant power-politics with the dharmic demand for justice and rightful restitution.
Ulūka, acting as a messenger aligned with the Kaurava side, taunts Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa, declaring that the kingdom will not be returned and inviting them to fight. It signals the hardening of positions and the collapse of peaceful settlement, pushing events toward war.