Shloka 39

Adhyāya 160: Arjuna’s Envoy-Message—Critique of Borrowed Valor and Pre-dawn Mobilization

Devanagari script

शारद्वतमहामीनं विविंशतिमहोरगम्‌ । बृहद्धलमहोद्वलं सौमदत्तितिमिज्विलम्‌

Transliteration

śāradvatamahāmīnaṃ viviṃśatimahoragam | bṛhaddhalamahodvalaṃ saumadattitimijvilam ||

Translation

Wika ni Ulūka: “Ang aming hukbo’y parang isang malawak na karagatan. Sa karagatang iyon, si Kṛpācārya—anak ni Śaradvat—ay gaya ng dambuhalang isda; si Viviṃśati ay gaya ng malaking ahas na nananahan sa loob; si Bṛhadbala ay gaya ng malakas na pag-alon at pagtaas ng tubig; at ang Saumadatti (Bhūriśravas) ay gaya ng kinatatakutang nilalang-dagat na tinatawag na timingila.”

Word by Word

• शारद्वत: of the Śāradvata lineage (i.e., Kṛpa)
• शारद्वत: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शारद्वत (प्रातिपदिक; शारद्वत-गोत्रसम्बन्धी)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महामीनम्: a great fish
• महामीनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• विविंशतिम्: Viviṁśati (a warrior)
• विविंशतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: विविंशति (प्रातिपदिक; व्यक्तिनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महोरगम्: a great serpent
• महोरगम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महोरग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• बृहद्बलम्: Bṛhadbala
• बृहद्बलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: बृहद्बल (प्रातिपदिक; व्यक्तिनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महोद्वलम्: a great surge/tide (great swell)
• महोद्वलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: महोद्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सौमदत्तिम्: Saumadatti (Bhūriśravas)
• सौमदत्तिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौमदत्ति (प्रातिपदिक; व्यक्तिनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• तिमिज्विलम्: Timijvila (a sea-monster/fish name)
• तिमिज्विलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिमिज्विल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

उलूक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Ulūka
• Kṛpācārya (Śāradvata/Kṛpa)
• Viviṃśati
• Bṛhadbala
• Bhūriśravas (Saumadatti)
• Timingila (mythic sea-creature)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse illustrates how martial rhetoric uses vivid metaphors to project strength and instill fear. Ethically, it highlights the psychology of conflict—how pride and intimidation can escalate hostility rather than encourage restraint or reconciliation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Ulūka, speaking for the Kaurava side, describes key Kaurava warriors through an ‘ocean of army’ metaphor—fish, serpent, tidal surge, and timingila—aiming to glorify his side’s power and unsettle the opponents.