Shloka 81
Ulūka’s Provocation and Keśava’s Counter-Message (उलूकदूत्ये केशवप्रत्युत्तरम्)
अस्मान् वा त्वं पराजित्य प्रशाधि पृथिवीमिमाम् | अथवा निर्जितो<5स्माभी रणे वीर शयिष्यसि
asmān vā tvaṃ parājitya praśādhi pṛthivīm imām | athavā nirjito 'smābhī raṇe vīra śayiṣyasi ||
“Hỡi dũng sĩ Dhanañjaya! Hoặc ngươi đánh bại chúng ta mà trị vì cõi đất này; hoặc bị chúng ta khuất phục, hỡi anh hùng, ngươi sẽ nằm lại trên chiến địa.”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse expresses the kṣatriya ethic that political authority must be earned through victory in legitimate combat, while defeat entails the warrior’s accepted consequence—falling on the battlefield. It underscores the inseparability of kingship, responsibility, and the risks of war.
Sanjaya reports a direct challenge addressed to Dhanañjaya (Arjuna): the opposing side presents a binary outcome—either Arjuna defeats them and rules the realm, or he is defeated by them and lies slain in battle—heightening the inevitability and gravity of the coming war.