Shloka 104
Ulūka’s Provocation and Keśava’s Counter-Message (उलूकदूत्ये केशवप्रत्युत्तरम्)
नानाजनीघं युधि सम्प्रवृद्धं गाड़ं यथा वेगमपारणीयम् | मां च स्थितं नागबलस्य मध्ये युयुत्ससे मन्द किमल्पबुद्धे,'ओ अल्पबुद्धि मूढ़ अर्जुन! जिसका वेग युद्धकालमें गंगाके वेगके समान बढ़ जाता है और जिसे पार करना असम्भव है, नाना प्रकारके जनसमुदायसे भरी हुई मेरी उस विशाल वाहिनीके साथ तथा गजसेनाके बीचमें खड़े हुए मुझ दुर्योधनके साथ भी तुम युद्धकी इच्छा कैसे रखते हो?
nānājanīghaṁ yudhi sampravṛddhaṁ gāḍhaṁ yathā vegam apāraṇīyam | māṁ ca sthitaṁ nāgabalasya madhye yuyutsase manda kim alpabuddhe ||
Sinabi ni Sañjaya: “Sa digmaan, ang aking hukbo ay lumalapad na parang siksik na baha, punô ng sari-saring tao, gaya ng rumaragasang agos ng Gaṅgā—hindi matatawid ang lakas nito. At ako, si Duryodhana, ay nakatindig sa gitna ng kapangyarihan ng hukbong-elepante. O mabagal ang isip, paano mo pa nanaising makipaglaban?”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how pride and intimidation operate in wartime rhetoric: Duryodhana measures right and victory by sheer numbers and force, using insults to unsettle the opponent. Ethically, it contrasts external power with inner discernment and restraint in speech.
Sañjaya reports a speech in which Duryodhana challenges Arjuna, boasting that his army is like an unfordable flood and that he stands protected among the elephant divisions, implying Arjuna’s wish to fight is foolish.