Shloka 18
Adhyāya 160: Arjuna’s Envoy-Message—Critique of Borrowed Valor and Pre-dawn Mobilization
को हास्ति जीविताकाडुशक्षी प्राप्पेममरिमर्दनम् । गजो वाजी रथो वापि पुनः स्वस्ति गृहान् व्रजेत्
ko hāsti jīvitākāṅkṣī prāpya imam arimardanam | gajo vājī ratho vāpi punaḥ svasti gṛhān vrajet ||
Sinabi ni Ulūka: “Sino, na kumakapit pa sa buhay, ang makakaharap sa tagadurog ng kaaway na si Droṇa at makababalik sa tahanan nang ligtas—maging nakasakay sa elepante, sa kabayo, o sa karwahe?”
उलूक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how martial reputation and fear can be used as a weapon: by portraying Droṇa as unsurvivably powerful, Ulūka attempts to weaken the opponent’s resolve. Ethically, it reflects the tension in kṣatriya-dharma between courage in battle and the human instinct for self-preservation.
Ulūka, acting as a messenger, delivers a taunting, intimidating message. He claims that no one who values life could face Droṇa—whether on elephant, horse, or chariot—and still return home safely, thereby trying to discourage and demoralize the opposing side before war.