Mahabharata · 5.158.41
॥
Devanāgarī
तदा मनस् ते त्रिदिवाद् इवाशुचेर्; निवर्ततां पार्थ महीप्रशासनात् ॥
राज्यं प्रशास्तुं हि सुदुर्लभं त्वया; बुभूषता स्वर्ग इवातपस्विना ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
tadā manas te tridivād ivāśucer; nivartatāṃ pārtha mahīpraśāsanāt ||
rājyaṃ praśāstuṃ hi sudurlabhaṃ tvayā; bubhūṣatā svarga ivātapasvinā ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
तदाtadāthen; at that time
मनस्manasmind; consciousness
तेteyour; to you
त्रिदिवाद्tridivādfrom heaven; from the third heaven
इवाशुचेर्ivāśuceras an impure one; as one defiled
निवर्ततांnivartatāṃlet it turn away; let it retreat
पार्थpārthaO Arjuna; son of Pritha
महीप्रशासनात्mahīpraśāsanātfrom ruling the earth; from dominion over the earth
राज्यंrājyaṃkingdom; power
प्रशास्तुंpraśāstuṃto rule; to govern
हिhiindeed; for
सुदुर्लभंsudurlabhaṃhard to attain; rarely obtained
त्वयाtvayāby you; on your part
बुभूषताbubhūṣatāwishing to be; desiring to become
स्वर्गsvargaheaven; paradise
इवातपस्विनाivātapasvināas by one without asceticism; like one who has not performed austerity
Translation
“Then let your mind, O Arjuna, turn away from dominion over the earth, as one impure turns away from heaven. For it is as hard for you, wishing to rule the kingdom, to attain it, as it is for one who has performed no austerity to attain paradise.”
Version
d64af610ec34 · published Jul 17, 2026, 6:17:52 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
In this chapter Uluka's speech becomes Duryodhana's harshest weapon. He recalls the Pandavas' real humiliations, but not for the sake of justice — only to wound and provoke. Notably, the boasting here is aimed at Arjuna: Duryodhana knows the strength of Krishna and the Gandiva, yet still clings to power, revealing a blindness that arguments can no longer cure.