As the clang of weapons draws closer, Duryodhana makes onefinal attempt—not at peace, but provocation. He sends his messenger Uluka to the Pandavas' camp, not with terms of truce, but words laced with mockery and insult. Each Pandava, however, answers not with anger but with fierce clarity, declaring their resolve and righteousness.

Meanwhile, far from this exchange of barbs, Bhishma prepares for a war he never wished for. Burdened by his dharma and loyalty, he insists that the battle, however bloody, must stillretain its moral compass. He lays down the rules of engagement—when to fight, whom to fight, and when to stop—guiding the greatest war with a code of conduct never before seen.

This episode captures the sharp contrast between petty provocation and principled preparation—where dignity stands tall even on the edge of destruction.