Shloka 11
Adhyāya 31: Rājasūya-samāgama — The Gathering of Kings and the Ordering of Hospitality
ततो रत्नान्युपादाय पुरं भोजकटं ययौ । तत्र युद्धमभूद् राजन् दिवसद्वयमच्युत,वहाँसे रत्नोंकी भेंट लेकर वे भोजकट नगरमें गये। अपनी मर्यादासे कभी च्युत न होनेवाले राजन! वहाँ दो दिनोंतक युद्ध होता रहा
tato ratnāny upādāya puraṃ bhojakaṭaṃ yayau | tatra yuddham abhūd rājan divasadvyam acyuta |
Daraufhin nahm er Edelsteine als Tributgabe an sich und zog in die Stadt Bhojakaṭa. O König—er, der niemals von der rechten Ordnung abweicht—dort entbrannte eine Schlacht, die zwei Tage währte.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a recurring Mahābhārata ethic: material offerings and formal gestures (like tribute-gifts) do not by themselves resolve underlying rivalry; when dharma and restraint fail, conflict can persist and escalate despite outward propriety.
After taking jewels as an offering, the party proceeds to the city of Bhojakaṭa; there, a battle breaks out and continues for two days, as narrated by Vaiśampāyana to the king.