Shloka 16
नकुलस्य प्रतीची-दिग्विजयः
Nakula’s Conquest of the Western Quarter
ततो भीमस्तत्र राजन्नुषित्वा त्रिदश क्षपा: । सत्कृत: शिशुपालेन ययौ सबलवाहन:,महता बलचक्रेण परराष्ट्रावमर्दिना । हस्त्यश्वरथपूर्णेन दंशितेन प्रतापवान् २ ।।
tato bhīmas tatra rājan uṣitvā tridaśa kṣapāḥ | satkṛtaḥ śiśupālena yayau sa-balavāhanaḥ, mahatā balacakreṇa para-rāṣṭrāvamardinā | hastyaśva-ratha-pūrṇena daṃśitena pratāpavān || vṛto bharataśārṭūlo dviṣacchoka-vivardhanaḥ |
Vaiśampāyana sprach: „Darauf, o König, blieb Bhīma dort dreizehn Nächte, von Śiśupāla geehrt, und zog dann mit seinen Truppen und Reittieren weiter. Mächtig und strahlend marschierte er mit einem gewaltigen, wohlbewaffneten Schlachtaufgebot—voll von Elefanten, Pferden und Wagen—einem Heer, das feindliche Königreiche zermalmen konnte. So brach der Tiger unter den Bhāratas, Mehrer des Kummers seiner Feinde, auf, um den königlichen Befehl zu erfüllen und den Eroberungszug voranzutreiben.“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in a political setting: a warrior-leader acts under legitimate royal instruction, maintains discipline and preparedness, accepts due honor without attachment, and proceeds to fulfill a larger state purpose (the conquest campaign connected with royal sovereignty).
Bhīma stays for thirteen nights where he is received and honored by Śiśupāla; afterward he departs with a large, well-equipped force—elephants, horses, and chariots—in a battle formation intended to subdue hostile kingdoms, continuing the campaign of conquest.