Ulūka’s Provocation and Keśava’s Counter-Message (उलूकदूत्ये केशवप्रत्युत्तरम्)
ज्येष्ठं तथैव कौन्तेयं ब्रूयास्त्वं वचनान्मम,उलूक! तुम मेरे कहनेसे कुन्तीके ज्येष्ठ पुत्र युधिष्ठिरके सामने जाकर इस प्रकार कहना --
jyeṣṭhaṃ tathaiva kaunteyaṃ brūyās tvaṃ vacanān mama, ulūka! tvaṃ mere kahane se kuntī-ke jyeṣṭha putra yudhiṣṭhira ke sāmane jākar isa prakāra kahanā --
三阇耶说道:“噢,优卢迦,你须一字不差地转述我的话。去到昆蒂长子、尤提士提罗面前,照这样对他说。”
संजय उवाच
The verse underscores fidelity in communication: an envoy must convey a message precisely as instructed, since words can shape ethical judgment and political outcomes on the brink of war.
Sañjaya instructs Ulūka to go to Yudhiṣṭhira and deliver a prepared message, framing the formal exchange of words that precedes and influences the escalating conflict.