Shloka 30
उलूकदूतवाक्यम् / Ulūka’s Message to the Pāṇḍavas
निवातकवचैर्युद्धे कालकेयैश्व दानवै: । तत्र मे युध्यमानस्य कः सहायस्तदाभवत्,“जब निवातकवच तथा कालकेय नामक दानवोंके साथ छिड़े हुए युद्धमें मैं अकेला ही लड़ रहा था, उस समय मेरी सहायताके लिये कौन आया था?
nivātakavacair yuddhe kālakeyaiś ca dānavaiḥ | tatra me yudhyamānasya kaḥ sahāyas tadābhavat ||
Vaiśampāyana nói: “Trong cuộc chiến chống lại Nivātakavaca và Kālakeya—những kẻ thù Dānava—khi ta đang giao chiến ở đó, thì lúc ấy ai đã đến trợ giúp ta?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical importance of timely support and loyal alliance in moments of extreme danger—especially within the kṣatriya context where standing by a warrior in crisis is a mark of dharma and steadfast friendship.
The speaker recalls a past battle against the Nivātakavacas and Kālakeyas (Dānava foes) and poses a pointed question: when he was engaged in that fierce fight, who came forward as his helper—implying a remembered act of assistance that bears on the present discussion.