Shloka 116
उलूकदूतवाक्यम् / Ulūka’s Message to the Pāṇḍavas
ततो<न्वधावद् वार्ष्णेयं सर्वशस्त्रभूतां वर: । वह सम्पूर्ण शस्त्रधारियोंमें श्रेष्ठ था। उसने यह प्रतिज्ञा करके कि मैं वृष्णिवंशी श्रीकृष्णको मारे बिना अपने नगरको नहीं लौटूँगा, उनका पीछा किया था
tato 'nvadhāvad vārṣṇeyaṃ sarvaśastrabhūtāṃ varaḥ | saḥ sampūrṇaśastradhāriṣu śreṣṭha āsīt | sa pratijñāṃ kṛtvā—“ahaṃ vṛṣṇivaṃśī śrīkṛṣṇaṃ mārayitvā vinā svanagaraṃ na nivartiṣye” iti—tam anujagāma |
Vaiśampāyana nói: Rồi vị chiến binh bậc nhất—đứng đầu trong hàng ngũ những kẻ mang binh khí—đuổi theo Vārṣṇeya (Śrī Kṛṣṇa). Sau khi thề lời thề nghiệt ngã: “Ta sẽ không trở về thành của ta nếu chưa giết Śrī Kṛṣṇa thuộc dòng Vṛṣṇi,” hắn liền truy bức không ngừng.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the moral danger of binding oneself to a violent vow: when personal resolve is driven by enmity and pride, it can override discernment (dharma-viveka) and push one toward adharma.
A renowned, fully armed warrior chases Śrī Kṛṣṇa (called Vārṣṇeya), declaring he will not return to his city unless he kills him—showing escalating hostility and the force of a self-imposed oath.