Shloka 2

Rājasūya-sambhāra: Prosperity under Rājadharma and the Initiation of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

अयोध्यायां तु धर्मज्ञं दीर्घयज्ञ महाबलम्‌ । अजयतू पाण्डवश्रेष्ठो नातितीव्रेण कर्मणा,इसके बाद अयोध्याके धर्मज्ञ नरेश महाबली दीर्घयज्ञको पाण्डवश्रेष्ठ भीमने कोमलतापूर्ण बर्तावसे वशमें कर लिया

Transliteration

ayodhyāyāṃ tu dharmajñaṃ dīrghayajña-mahābalam | ajayatū pāṇḍavaśreṣṭho nātitīvreṇa karmaṇā ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana sprach: In Ayodhyā brachte der Vornehmste der Pāṇḍavas den dharmakundigen, überaus starken König Dīrghayajña unter seine Herrschaft—nicht durch harte Maßnahmen, sondern durch ein maßvolles, nicht übermäßig strenges Verhalten.

Word by Word

अयोध्यायाम्in Ayodhya

तुbut/indeed

धर्मज्ञम्knowing dharma, righteous

दीर्घयज्ञम्Dīrghayajña (proper name; lit. long-sacrifice)

महाबलम्very strong, mighty

अजयत्conquered/overcame

पाण्डवश्रेष्ठःthe best of the Pāṇḍavas

नnot

अतितीव्रेणby (means of) not overly harsh

कर्मणाby action/behavior

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Ayodhyā

Dīrghayajña

Pāṇḍavaśreṣṭha (Bhīma)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Power should be exercised within dharma: even when seeking political submission, one should avoid excessive harshness and win allegiance through measured, ethical conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the Pāṇḍavas’ campaign of subjugation, the foremost Pāṇḍava (identified here as Bhīma) brings the Ayodhyā king Dīrghayajña under control, not by brutal force but by restrained and conciliatory action.