Shloka 55

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

Devanagari script

इन्द्रजालं च माया वै कुहका वापि भीषणा । आत्तशस्त्रस्य संग्रामे वहन्ति प्रतिगर्जना:

Transliteration

indrajālaṃ ca māyā vai kuhakā vāpi bhīṣaṇā | āttaśastrasya saṅgrāme vahanti pratigarjanāḥ ||

Translation

三阇耶说道：“无论是因陀罗的幻网，抑或寻常妖术，乃至骇人的欺诳仪轨——这些都不能使已在战场执兵的勇士畏缩；反而只会助长并激发他的怒火与狮子般的咆哮。”

Word by Word

• इन्द्रजालम्: Indra’s net; magical illusion
• इन्द्रजालम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रजाल
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

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

• माया: illusion; magic
• माया: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• कुहकाः: deceits; jugglery; tricksters (tricks)
• कुहकाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुहक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• वा: or
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा

• अपि: also; even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• भीषणाः: terrible; frightful
• भीषणाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीषण
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• आत्तशस्त्रस्य: of one who has taken up weapons
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्तशस्त्र
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• संग्रामे: in battle
• संग्रामे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: संग्राम
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• वहन्ति: they carry; they bear; they bring about
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह्
• Form: Present, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada

• प्रतिगर्जनाः: counter-roars; loud reverberations
• प्रतिगर्जनाः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिगर्जना
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Sañjaya
• Indrajāla (magical illusion)
• Māyā (illusion)
• Kuhaka (trickery/deception)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Illusion and fear-inducing tricks lose their power over one who is resolute in righteous combat; inner steadiness turns external intimidation into fuel for greater courage and determination.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes how magical displays, deceptive arts, or frightening rites do not frighten an armed warrior in the thick of battle; instead, they heighten his aggressive resolve and battle-cry.