Shloka 4

Ulūka’s Provocation and Keśava’s Counter-Message (उलूकदूत्ये केशवप्रत्युत्तरम्)

Devanagari script

तत्र दुर्योधनो राजा कर्णेन सह भारत

Transliteration

tatra duryodhano rājā karṇena saha bhārata

Translation

三阇耶曰：“婆罗多啊！其处，杜律约陀罗王——与迦尔那同在——端坐其间。”此句以点明杜律约陀罗对迦尔那之倚重而设景：此一纽带固能坚其决心，却也使他更深陷于争斗与非正法（adharma）之途。

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र
• Form: indeclinable (locative adverb)

• दुर्योधनः: Duryodhana
• दुर्योधनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्योधन
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• कर्णेन: with Karna / by Karna
• कर्णेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण
• Form: masculine, instrumental, singular

• सह: together with
• सह: Karana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह
• Form: indeclinable (postposition governing instrumental)

• भारत: O Bharata (descendant of Bharata)
• भारत: Sampradana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Duryodhana
• Karṇa
• Dhṛtarāṣṭra (addressed as Bhārata)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores how companionship and counsel shape moral direction: Duryodhana’s closeness with Karṇa signals a reinforced commitment to his chosen course, illustrating how alliances can intensify resolve—whether toward dharma or toward destructive ambition.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya briefly locates the scene by stating that Duryodhana is there in the company of Karṇa, preparing the listener (Dhṛtarāṣṭra) for the ensuing developments involving Kaurava deliberations and the momentum toward war.