Shloka 74
Ulūka’s Provocation and Keśava’s Counter-Message (उलूकदूत्ये केशवप्रत्युत्तरम्)
तथार्थपतिभिर्भुत्या यत: सृष्टा: प्रजास्ततः । अश्लाघ्यो5यं नरपतिर्युवयोरिति चागतम्
tathārthapatibhir bhṛtyā yataḥ sṛṣṭāḥ prajāstataḥ | aślāghyo 'yaṃ narapatir yuvayor iti cāgatam ||
桑阇耶说道：“也把我的讯息转告毗罗吒与德鲁帕陀：自造物主生出众生以来，臣仆从未真正洞察其主——不能清楚识别其德与过；君主也同样未能恰当地了解其臣仆。由此看来，即便坚战不配受敬，你们二位仍奉他为王，并依其号令来此参战。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring ethical weakness in human relationships: dependents often fail to judge their leaders accurately, and leaders likewise misunderstand their dependents. It cautions that loyalty and political alignment may rest on imperfect discernment rather than clear knowledge of merit.
Sañjaya reports a pointed message intended for Virāṭa and Drupada, questioning their decision to accept Yudhiṣṭhira as their king and to come to war on his behalf, even if he were deemed ‘not worthy of praise.’ The statement functions as political pressure and moral critique amid the war preparations.