Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 186 — Drupada’s Summons and the Pāñcāla Reception
कलिजड्भवज्राधिपपाण्ड्यपौण्ड्रा विदेहराजो यवनाधिपश्न । अन्ये च नानानृपपुत्रपौत्रा राष्ट्राधिपा: पड़कजपकत्रनेत्रा:
kali-jaḍbha-vajrādhipa-pāṇḍya-pauṇḍrā videha-rājo yavanādhipaś ca | anye ca nānā-nṛpa-putra-pautrā rāṣṭrādhipāḥ paḍakaja-pakatra-netrāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: „Auch die Herrscher von Kaliṅga, Jaḍbha und Vajra waren da; die Könige der Pāṇḍyas und der Pauṇḍras; der König von Videha; und der Gebieter der Yavanas. Mit ihnen kamen viele weitere Fürsten—Söhne und Enkel von Königen—Landesherren aus verschiedensten Gegenden, manche kenntlich an besonderen Merkmalen und Insignien.“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights the breadth of political networks: many rulers—near and far—become involved through alliance, ambition, or obligation. Ethically, it points to how the actions of central figures ripple outward, drawing entire peoples into the consequences of royal decisions.
Vaiśampāyana is enumerating various kings and regional lords—Kaliṅga, Pāṇḍya, Pauṇḍra, Videha, and the Yavana ruler—along with many other princes. It functions as a catalogue of participating or associated powers in the unfolding events.