Shloka 20
Bhīmasena’s Digvijaya and Tribute Return (भीमस्य दिग्विजयः धननिवेदनं च)
ततः सिंहपुरं रम्यं चित्रायुधसुरक्षितम् | प्राधमद् बलमास्थाय पाकशासनिराहवे
tataḥ siṃhapuraṃ ramyaṃ citrāyudhasurakṣitam | prādhmad balam āsthāya pākaśāsanir āhave ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Dann nahm er sein Heer und rückte zum Kampf gegen die liebliche Stadt Siṃhapura vor, die von Citrāyudha wohlbewacht war. In jenem Gefecht drängte Arjuna — der Sohn Indras (Pākaśāsani) — den Angriff voran und brachte die befestigte Stadt unter seine Herrschaft.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined, organized force in the service of a political objective, reflecting the Mahābhārata’s concern with how kṣatriya power should be exercised—through strategy and responsibility rather than uncontrolled violence.
Arjuna, identified through Indra’s epithet Pākaśāsani, advances with an army to attack the beautiful city of Siṃhapura, which is defended by Citrāyudha, and he overcomes it in battle.