Section CLXIII Uluka Dutagamana Parva
"Sanjaya said,
'O monarch, provoking Arjuna still further who was like a snake of virulent poison, by means of those wordy strokes of his Uluka once more repeated the words he had once spoken. The Pandavas had before such repetition, been sufficiently provoked, but hearing these words (a second time) and receiving those censures through the gambler’s son, they were provoked beyond endurance. They all stood up, and began to stretch their arms. And looking like enraged snakes of virulent poison, they began to cast their eyes on one another. And Bhimasena, with face downwards, and breathing heavily like a snake, began to glance obliquely at Kesava, directing the blood-red corners of his eyes towards him.
And beholding the Wind-god’s son to be greatly afflicted and extremely provoked with rage, he of Dasarha’s race smilingly addressed the gambler’s son and said,
'Depart hence without a moment’s delay. O gambler’s son, and say unto Suyodhana these words, viz.,—Your words have been heard and sense understood. Let that take place which you desirest.'
Having said this, O best of monarchs, the mighty-armed Kesava looked once more at Yudhishthira endued with great wisdom. Then in the midst and presence of all the Srinjayas, of Krishna possessed of great fame, of Drupada with his sons, of Virata, and all the kings (there assembled), Uluka once more repeated unto Arjuna the words he had said, provoking him still further thereby, like one annoying wrathful snake of virulent poison by means of a stake. And he also said unto all of them, viz.,—Krishna and others, those words that Duryodhana had instructed him to say. And hearing those harsh and highly disagreeable words uttered by Uluka, Partha was greatly excited and wiped the sweat off his forehead. And beholding Partha, O king, in that condition, that assembly of monarchs could not bear it at all. And at that insult to Krishna and the high-souled Partha, the car-warriors of the Pandavas were greatly agitated. Though endued with great steadiness of mind, those tigers among men began to burn with anger.
And Dhrishtadyumna and Sikhandin and that mighty car-warrior, Satyaki, and the five Kekaya brothers, and the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha, the sons of Draupadi, and Abhimanyu, and king Dhrishtaketu, and Bhimasena, endued with great prowess, and those mighty car-warriors—the twins,—jumped up from their seats, their eyes red with anger, tossing their handsome arms decked with red sandal-paste and ornaments of gold. Then Vrikodara, the son of Kunti, understanding their gestures and hearts, sprang up from his seat.
And gnashing his teeth, and licking with his tongue the corners of his mouth, and burning with rage, and squeezing his hands and turning his eyes fiercely, said these words unto Uluka, Ignorant fool, your words have now been heard which Duryodhana said unto you for the object of provoking us as if we were a set of imbeciles! Hear now the words which I say and which you are to repeat unto the inaccessible Suyodhana in the midst of all the Kshatriyas and in the hearing of the Suta’s son and the wicked-hearted Sakuni. We always seek to gratify our elder brother! It was for this, O you of wicked behaviour, that we tolerated your acts. Dost you not regard this as highly fortunate for you? It was for only the good of our race that king Yudhishthira the Just, endued with great intelligence, sent Hrishikesa to the Kurus for bringing about a peace! Impelled by Fate, without doubt, you are desirous of repairing unto Yama’s abode! Come, fight with us. That, however, is certainly to take place tomorrow! I have, indeed, vowed to slay you with your brothers! O sinful fool, do not entertain the slightest doubt, for it will be as I have vowed! The very ocean, the abode of Varuna-may all on a sudden transgress its continents.
The very mountains may split, yet my words can never be false! If Yama himself, or Kuvera, or Rudra, assists you, the Pandavas will still accomplish what they have vowed! I shall certainly drink Dussasana’s blood according to my pleasure! And I also vow that Kshatriya whatsoever may then angrily approach me, even if he comes with Bhishma himself at the van, I will send him to Yama’s abode! That which I have said in the midst of a Kshatriya assembly will certainly be true. I swear this by my soul!
'Hearing these words of Bhimasena, the wrathful Sahadeva also, with eyes red in anger, said these words in the presence of the (assembled) troops,—words that become that proud hero.
And he said,
'Listen, O sinful one, to the words I utter and which must be repeated to your father! A difference would never have arisen between us and the Kurus, if Dhritarashtra had no relationship with you! Of sinful acts and the exterminator of your own race, you have been born as an embodiment of quarrel for the destruction of the whole world as also for the destruction of Dhritarashtra’s race! From our very birth, O Uluka, that sinful father of thine has always sought to do us injury and evil. I desire to attain the opposite shore of that hostile relation. Slaying you first before the very eyes of Sakuni, I shall then slay Sakuni himself in the sight of all bowmen!'
'Hearing these words of both Bhima and Sahadeva, Phalguni smilingly addressed Bhima, saying,
'O Bhimasena, they that have provoked hostilities with you, cannot live! Though they may dwell happily in their homes, those fools become yet entangled in the meshes of death! O best of men, Uluka does not deserve to be addressed harshly by you! What fault do envoys commit, repeating as they only do what they are instructed (to say)?'
And having thus addressed Bhima of terrible prowess that mighty-armed hero then addressed his heroic allies and well-wishers headed by Dhrishtadyumna, saying,
'You have heard the words of the sinful son of Dhritarashtra in dispraise of Vasudeva and especially of myself! And hearing them you have been filled with anger because you wish us well! But through Vasudeva’s might and your endeavours, I do not reckon even all the Kshatriyas of the earth assembled together! With your permission I will now communicate to Uluka what the reply to those words is, what, indeed, he should say unto Duryodhana!—When the morrow comes, stationed at the head of my division, the answer to these words shall I give through Gandiva! For they that are eunuchs, answer in words!'
'Hearing this, all those best of kings applauded Dhananjaya, wondering at the ingenuity of that reply.
King Yudhishthira the Just, then, having spoken mildly unto all the kings each according to his age and as each deserved said, at last, unto Uluka these words so that he might carry them to Duryodhana.
And Yudhishthira said,
'No good king should patiently bear an insult. Having so long heard what you had to say, I shall now tell you what my reply is!'
'Having heard then, O best of Bharata’s race, those words of Duryodhana, Yudhishthira, that bull of the Bharata race, with eyes exceedingly red in anger and himself sighing like a snake of virulent poison, licking the corners of his mouth with his tongue, as if swelling with wrath, and casting his eyes on Janardana and his own brothers, said unto Uluka these words that were fraught with both mildness and vigour.
And tossing his massive arms he said unto the gambler’s son,
'Go, O Uluka, and say unto Duryodhana, that ungrateful, wicked-minded embodiment of hostilities, that infamous wretch of his race, these words, viz.,—O sinful wretch, you always behavest with crookedness towards the Pandavas! O sinful fool, he that displays his prowess relying on his own might and summons his foes (to battle) and fulfills his own words, even he is a man of the Kshatriya order! Be you a Kshatriya, O sinful wretch, and summon us to battle! O infamous one of your race, do not come to battle, placing at your head others for whom we profess respect! O Kaurava, relying on your own might and on that of your servants, summon the sons of Pritha to battle! Be Kshatriya in every way! He, who summons his foes, relying on the might of others, and incapable of receiving them himself is, indeed, a eunuch! You, however, think highly of thyself, relying on the might of others! Being weak and unable thyself, why then dost you roar so (in words) at us?'
"Krishna said,
'My words also, O gambler’s son, should be communicated unto Suyodhana. Let that morrow come to you on which the battle is to take place. O you of wicked soul, be a man! O fool, you think Janardana will not fight, since he has been chosen by the Pandavas to act only as a charioteer, so you are not alarmed. That, however, will not be, even for a moment. If my wrath is excited, I may then consume all the kings (assembled by you) like a fire consuming a heap of straw.
At Yudhishthira’s command, however, I shall only discharge the functions of charioteer to the high-souled Phalguni, of senses under complete control and who alone, (amongst us two) will fight! If you fliest beyond the limits of the three worlds, if you sinkest into the depths of the earth, you shalt, even at these places, behold Arjuna’s car tomorrow morning. You think that Bhima’s words have been spoken in vain! But know that Dussasana’s blood has already been quaffed. Know this also that although you have uttered such cross and perverse words, yet neither Partha, nor king Yudhishthira, nor Bhimasena, nor any of the twins, regards you as straw!'"
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