Shloka 66
Ulūka’s Provocation and Keśava’s Counter-Message (उलूकदूत्ये केशवप्रत्युत्तरम्)
बललवो नाम विख्यातस्तन्ममैव हि पौरुषम् | 'उलूक! उस बिना मूँछोंके मर्द (अथवा बोझ ढोनेवाले बैल), अधिक खानेवाले, अज्ञानी और मूर्ख भीमसेनसे भी बारंबार मेरा यह संदेश कहना “कुन्तीकुमार! पहले विराटनगरमें जो तू रसोइया बनकर रहा और बललवके नामसे विख्यात हुआ, वह सब मेरा ही पुरुषार्थ था ।।
balalavo nāma vikhyātas tan mamaiva hi pauruṣam | pratijñātaṃ bhāma-dhye na tan mithyā tvayā purā, duḥśāsanasya rudhiraṃ pīyatāṃ yadi śakyate ||
三阇耶说道：“你以‘婆罗婆’之名而闻名——那确是凭我的勇力所致。你昔日在大会之中立下的誓言，不可因你而成虚妄：若你有本事，就来饮杜沙娑那之血！”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights how vows and honor can be weaponized through taunts, pushing a person toward extreme acts. It foregrounds the ethical strain in the epic: keeping one’s word is valued, yet the content of a vow—especially one rooted in rage—can intensify adharma and cruelty.
A hostile message is being relayed that mocks Bhima’s earlier disguise as ‘Ballava’ in Virata’s city and challenges him to fulfill his famous assembly-vow by drinking Duhshasana’s blood. The rhetoric is meant to provoke Bhima and inflame the conflict on the eve of war.