Shloka 16
जयद्रथविमोचन–पलायनवृत्तान्तः
Recovery of Draupadī and Jayadratha’s flight
दक्षिणस्यां दिशि नृपान् करान् सर्वानदापयत् | उसने रणभूमिमें केरल नरेश, राजा नील तथा वेणुदारिपुत्रको हराया और दक्षिण दिशामें अन्य जितने प्रमुख भूपाल थे, उन सबको जीतकर उनसे कर वसूल किया ।। १५६ || शैशुपालिं ततो गत्वा विजिग्ये सूतनन्दन:
vaiśampāyana uvāca | dakṣiṇasyāṃ diśi nṛpān karān sarvān adāpayat | śaiśupāliṃ tato gatvā vijigye sūtanandanaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Im südlichen Viertel zwang er alle Könige, Tribut zu entrichten. Dann zog er in das Land der Śaiśupālas, und auch dieses eroberte der Sohn des Wagenlenkers (Karna).
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse reflects a political-dharmic idea of sovereignty: conquest is completed when defeated rulers acknowledge overlordship by paying tribute. Such power carries ethical responsibility—rule must be maintained through order and protection, not mere violence.
Vaiśampāyana narrates Karṇa’s campaign: he subdues southern kings and exacts tribute from them, then advances to the Śaiśupāla-associated region and conquers it as well.