Shloka 2

उलूकदूतवाक्यम् / Ulūka’s Message to the Pāṇḍavas

Devanagari script

आकूतीनामधिपतिभोजस्यातियशस्विन: । दाक्षिणात्यपते: पुत्रो दिक्षु रुक्मीति विश्रुत:

Transliteration

ākūtīnām adhipatibhojasya atiyaśasvinaḥ | dākṣiṇātyapateḥ putro dikṣu rukmīti viśrutaḥ ||

Translation

అత్యంత యశస్సుగల భోజవంశీయుడు, దక్షిణ దేశాధిపతి కుమారుడు—సర్వదిక్కులలో ‘రుక్మి’ అని ప్రసిద్ధుడైనవాడు—(అదే సమయంలో) పాండవుల వద్దకు వచ్చెను.

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'ākūtīnām', 'definition': 'of intentions/resolutions

• of purposeful designs (gen. pl.)'}, {'term': 'adhipati', 'definition': 'lord, ruler, overlord'}, {'term': 'bhojasya', 'definition': 'of the Bhoja (dynasty/king)'}, {'term': 'atiyaśasvin', 'definition': 'exceedingly famous, of great renown'}, {'term': 'dākṣiṇātya', 'definition': 'southern

• belonging to the Deccan/south'}, {'term': 'pati', 'definition': 'lord, master

• ruler'}, {'term': 'putra', 'definition': 'son'}, {'term': 'dikṣu', 'definition': 'in the directions

• everywhere'}, {'term': 'rukmī', 'definition': 'Rukmī (proper name

• famed prince)'}, {'term': 'viśruta', 'definition': 'well-known, widely renowned'}]

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśaṃpāyana
• Janamejaya
• Rukmī
• Bhoja (dynasty/king)
• Dākṣiṇātya-deśa (southern country)
• Pāṇḍavas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds royal reputation and public renown as forces that shape political movement: a widely known prince (Rukmī) enters the Pāṇḍavas’ sphere, hinting that fame, lineage, and regional power influence alliances and the unfolding of dharma-driven conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśaṃpāyana reports to Janamejaya that Rukmī—son of a celebrated Bhoja ruler of the southern realm and famous in all directions—comes to the Pāṇḍavas, marking a new arrival in the Udyoga Parva’s preparations and negotiations before war.