Shloka 17
उलूकदूतवाक्यम् / Ulūka’s Message to the Pāṇḍavas
Devanagari script
ततः स कवच धन्वी तली खड़्गी शरासनी
Transliteration
tataḥ sa kavaca-dhanvī talī khaḍgī śarāsanī
Translation
随后他全副武装现身——披甲执弓，腰系剑带，手持利剑，并备有箭囊与弓具——昭示着对即将到来的冲突已然就绪，也预告事态将转入沉重的一章。
Word by Word
ततःthen, thereafter
ततः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात् अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (no gender/case/number)
सःhe
सः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्
कवचधन्वीarmoured and bow-bearing
कवचधन्वी:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootकवचधन्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्
तलीbearing a shield (or palm-guard)
तली:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootतलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्
खड्गीsword-bearing
खड्गी:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootखड्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्
शरासनीhaving a bow (lit. arrow-seat)
शरासनी:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootशरासनिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्
Speaker
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Characters & Entities
K
kavaca (armour)D
dhanus (bow)K
khaḍga (sword)T
tala (weapon-belt)Ś
śara (arrows)Ā
āsana/śarāsana (bow-gear/quiver context)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
War Context
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical gravity of entering conflict: taking up arms is not casual display but a deliberate assumption of responsibility, signalling readiness to act within one’s role (especially kṣatriya-duty) amid an escalating crisis.
A male figure is described as fully armed—armour, bow, sword, belt, and arrows—marking a shift from counsel or preparation into imminent action, as the Udyoga Parva moves toward the outbreak of war.