Shloka 59
Ulūka’s Provocation and Keśava’s Counter-Message (उलूकदूत्ये केशवप्रत्युत्तरम्)
घातयित्वा प्रदास्यामि पार्थेभ्यो राज्यमुत्तमम् । आचचतक्षे च मे सर्व संजयस्तव भाषितम्,“एकमात्र विधाता ही अपने मानसिक संकल्पमात्रसे समस्त प्राणियोंको वशमें कर लेता है। वार्ष्णेय! तुम जो यह कहा करते थे कि मैं युद्धमें धृतराष्ट्रके सभी पुत्रोंकोी मरवाकर उनका सारा उत्तम राज्य कुन्तीके पुत्रोंको दे दूँगा। तुम्हारा वह सारा भाषण संजयने मुझे सुना दिया था
ghātayitvā pradāsyāmi pārthebhyo rājyam uttamam | ācacakṣe ca me sarvaṃ saṃjayas tava bhāṣitam ||
Sañjaya nói: “Sau khi khiến họ bị giết, ta sẽ ban vương quốc tối thượng cho các con của Pṛthā.” Tất cả lời ấy của ngài, tâu Đại vương, Sañjaya đã tường thuật đầy đủ cho ta.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the ethical tension between political ends and violent means: claiming to ‘give the kingdom’ after arranging slaughter exposes how power can be rationalized through adharma, while truthful reporting (Sanjaya’s narration) preserves accountability by keeping words and intentions on record.
Sanjaya reports to the king that he has heard and is conveying a prior declaration: the speaker vowed to have opponents killed and then hand over the ‘excellent kingdom’ to the Pāṇḍavas. The line functions as a recollection of a hard, war-oriented resolve and as testimony transmitted through Sanjaya.