Shloka 12
Adhyāya 160: Arjuna’s Envoy-Message—Critique of Borrowed Valor and Pre-dawn Mobilization
असमागम्य भीष्मेण संयुगे कि विकत्थसे । आरुरुक्षुर्यथा मन्द: पर्वतं गन्धमादनम्
asamāgamya bhīṣmeṇa saṁyuge kiṁ vikatthase | ārurukṣur yathā mandaḥ parvataṁ gandhamādanam ||
اُلُوک نے کہا: “بھیشم سے میدانِ جنگ میں ملے بغیر ہی تم کیوں شیخی بگھارتے ہو؟ تم اُس کند ذہن آدمی کی مانند ہو جو گندھمادن پہاڑ پر چڑھنے چلا ہو۔”
उलूक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Empty boasting without proven capability is ethically blameworthy and strategically foolish; true valor is demonstrated through deeds, especially when facing a formidable elder-warrior like Bhīṣma.
Ulūka delivers a taunting rebuke, mocking the addressee’s pride by pointing out that he has not yet faced Bhīṣma in actual combat, and compares his bravado to a foolish person attempting the near-impossible climb of Mount Gandhamādana.