Shloka 53
Ulūka’s Provocation and Keśava’s Counter-Message (उलूकदूत्ये केशवप्रत्युत्तरम्)
ब्रूयास्त्वं वासुदेवं च पाण्डवानां समीपत: । आत्मार्थ पाण्डवार्थ च यत्ता मां प्रति योधय
brūyāstvaṃ vāsudevaṃ ca pāṇḍavānāṃ samīpataḥ | ātmārthaṃ pāṇḍavārthaṃ ca yattā māṃ prati yodhaya, ulūka ||
三阇耶说道：“你也当在般度诸子面前对婆苏提婆说：‘阇那尔达那啊，如今当备具周全、意志坚决，与我交战——为你自身之利，亦为般度诸子之利。’乌卢迦啊！”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse illustrates how rhetoric can recast impending violence as ‘benefit’ (ātmārtha, pāṇḍavārtha), revealing the ethical tension between proclaimed welfare and the reality of war. It also highlights the moment when persuasion gives way to resolve and confrontation.
Sañjaya reports instructions for Ulūka to address Kṛṣṇa (Vāsudeva/Janārdana) in front of the Pāṇḍavas, delivering a provocative call to battle: be fully prepared and fight against the speaker, ostensibly for the good of all concerned.