Shloka 96
Ulūka’s Provocation and Keśava’s Counter-Message (उलूकदूत्ये केशवप्रत्युत्तरम्)
द्रोणं च बलिनां श्रेष्ठ शचीपतिसमं युधि । अजित्वा संयुगे पार्थ राज्यं कथमिहेच्छसि
sañjaya uvāca |
droṇaṃ ca balināṃ śreṣṭha śacīpati-samaṃ yudhi |
ajitvā saṃyuge pārtha rājyaṃ katham ihecchasi |
yathā vaḥ sampratijñātaṃ tat sarvaṃ kriyatām iti ||
三阇耶说道：“噢，强者之最！至于德罗纳——在战阵中堪比舍吉之主（因陀罗）——若不在交锋中战胜他，噢，帕尔塔，你怎能在此希求王国？当使一切都依你们所立之誓而成。”
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate kingship in a kṣatriya framework is tied to dharma: one must keep solemn vows and face the rightful obstacles in battle. Seeking power without meeting the foremost defenders (here, Droṇa) is portrayed as ethically inconsistent with honor and pledged intent.
Sañjaya reports a pointed challenge: the addressee (Pārtha) is reminded that Droṇa is Indra-like in battle and must be defeated before the kingdom can be claimed. The speaker also urges that all previously made promises be carried out, framing the coming war as the moment to prove earlier declarations.