Shloka 15

Adhyāya 160: Arjuna’s Envoy-Message—Critique of Borrowed Valor and Pre-dawn Mobilization

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मे धनुषि चाचार्य वेदयोरन्तगं द्वयो: । युधि धुर्यमविक्षो भ्यमनीकचरमच्युतम्‌

Transliteration

brāhme dhanuṣi cācārya vedayor antagaṁ dvayoḥ | yudhi dhuryam avikṣobhyaṁ anīkacaram acyutam ||

Translation

Ulūka nói: “Đạo sư Droṇa tinh thông trọn vẹn cả thánh học (brahma-vidyā) lẫn khoa cung thuật (dhanur-veda). Trên chiến địa, ông là kẻ gánh vác trọng trách của cuộc chiến—vững như núi, không thể lay chuyển, đi lại giữa đội ngũ, và chưa từng lùi bước khỏi chiến trường. Vì thế, hỡi Pārtha, mong khuất phục Droṇa rực rỡ ấy chỉ là liều lĩnh vô ích.”

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मे: in the Brahma- (sacred) [knowledge/veda]
• ब्राह्मे: Adhikarana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्राह्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• धनुषि: in archery / in the bow(-science)
• धनुषि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

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

• आचार्यः: the teacher (Drona)
• आचार्यः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• वेदयोः: of the two Vedas (sciences)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Dual

• अन्तगम्: one who has reached the end; fully proficient
• अन्तगम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• द्वयोः: of the two
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Dual

• युधि: in battle
• युधि: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: युध् (प्रातिपदिक/नपुंसकलिङ्ग-शब्द)
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• धुर्यम्: fit to bear the yoke; capable of bearing the burden
• धुर्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धुर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अविक्षोभ्यम्: unshakable; not to be disturbed
• अविक्षोभ्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविक्षोभ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अनीकचरम्: moving amid the army (ranks)
• अनीकचरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनीकचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अच्युतम्: Acyuta (Krishna)
• अच्युतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

उलूक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Ulūka
• Droṇa
• Pārtha (Arjuna)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the ideal of steadiness and mastery: true authority in war is grounded in disciplined knowledge (sacred and martial) and unwavering resolve. It also warns against reckless overconfidence when facing a superior, seasoned opponent.

What is happening in the narrative?

Ulūka, acting as a messenger and provocateur for the Kauravas, attempts to intimidate Arjuna by extolling Droṇa’s unmatched competence and steadfastness in battle, portraying any attempt to defeat him as futile audacity.