Shloka 25

Adhyāya 160: Arjuna’s Envoy-Message—Critique of Borrowed Valor and Pre-dawn Mobilization

Devanagari script

यदीदं कत्थनाललोके सिध्येत्‌ कर्म धनंजय । सर्वे भवेयु: सिद्धार्था: कत्थने को हि दुर्गतः

Transliteration

yadīdaṃ katthanāl loke sidhyet karma dhanaṃjaya | sarve bhaveyuḥ siddhārthāḥ katthane ko hi durgataḥ ||

Translation

“噢，檀那ंज耶！若世间只凭夸夸其谈便能成就所愿，那么人人都将功成名遂。因为在夸口自许、巧言翻弄之事上，谁又会贫乏无力呢？”

Word by Word

• यदि: if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम्
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• कत्थनात्: from boasting; by mere talk
• कत्थनात्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कत्थन
• Form: neuter, ablative, singular

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

• सिध्येत्: would succeed; would be accomplished
• Type: Verb
• Root: सिध्
• Form: optative (vidhiling), 3rd, singular, parasmaipada

• कर्म: the task; the work
• कर्म: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: neuter, nominative, singular

• धनंजय: O Dhanañjaya (Arjuna)
• Type: Noun (proper name)
• Root: धनंजय
• Form: masculine, vocative, singular

• सर्वे: all (people)
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Pronoun/Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• भवेयुः: would become; would be
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू
• Form: optative (vidhiling), 3rd, plural, parasmaipada

• सिद्धार्थाः: having achieved their aims; successful
• सिद्धार्थाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिद्धार्थ
• Form: masculine, nominative, plural

• कत्थने: in boasting; in talk
• कत्थने: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: कत्थन
• Form: neuter, locative, singular

• कः: who?
• कः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

• हि: indeed; for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• दुर्गतः: unfortunate; in bad condition; poor
• दुर्गतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्गत
• Form: masculine, nominative, singular

Speaker

उलूक उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Ulūka
• Dhanaṃjaya (Arjuna)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse contrasts empty boasting with real accomplishment: mere self-praise cannot produce success; ethical worth and true capability are proved by action, not by words.

What is happening in the narrative?

Ulūka addresses Arjuna in a taunting, provocative tone, implying that Arjuna’s claims or reputation mean nothing unless matched by actual deeds—part of the hostile exchange surrounding the impending war.