Shloka 39

उलूकदूतवाक्यम् / Ulūka’s Message to the Pāṇḍavas

Devanagari script

गते रामे तीर्थयात्रां भीष्मकस्य सुते तथा । उपाविशन्‌ पाण्डवेया मन्त्राय पुनरेव च,बलरामजीके तीर्थयात्रामें और भीष्मकपुत्र रुक्मीके अपने नगरको चले जानेपर पाण्डवोंने पुनः गुप्त मन्त्रणाके लिये बैठक की

Transliteration

gate rāme tīrthayātrāṃ bhīṣmakasya sute tathā | upāviśan pāṇḍaveyā mantrāya punar eva ca ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana nói: “Khi Rāma (Balarāma) đã lên đường hành hương, và con trai của Bhīṣmaka (Rukmī) cũng trở về thành của mình, các con của Pāṇḍu lại ngồi xuống để bàn nghị kín.”

Word by Word

• गते: when (he) had gone
• गते: Adhikarana
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Locative, Singular

• रामे: in/with Rama (Balarama)
• रामे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तीर्थयात्राम्: pilgrimage (journey to sacred fords)
• तीर्थयात्राम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थयात्रा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• भीष्मकस्य: of Bhishmaka
• भीष्मकस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्मक
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• सुते: when the son (was gone)
• सुते: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तथा: also/likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• उपाविशन्: sat down
• उपाविशन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आस्
• Form: लङ् (imperfect), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• पाण्डवेयाः: the Pandavas (sons of Pandu)
• पाण्डवेयाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डवेय
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• मन्त्राय: for counsel/consultation
• मन्त्राय: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र
• Form: Masculine, Dative, Singular

• पुनः: again
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Rāma (Balarāma)
• Bhīṣmaka
• Bhīṣmaka’s son (Rukmī)
• Pāṇḍavas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights prudent governance: when external parties depart and distractions subside, leaders should deliberate privately and carefully. Ethical action in crisis is supported by thoughtful counsel (mantra), not impulsive reaction.

What is happening in the narrative?

Balarāma leaves on a pilgrimage, and Rukmī (Bhīṣmaka’s son) returns to his city. With these figures gone, the Pāṇḍavas convene again for a confidential strategy discussion as events move toward confrontation.