Shloka 20
भद्रान् रोहितकांश्वैव आग्रेयान् मालवानपि । गणान् सर्वान् विनिर्जित्य नीतिकृत् प्रहसन्निव
bhadrān rohitakāṁś caiva āgreyān mālavān api | gaṇān sarvān vinirjitya nītikṛt prahasann iva ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Nachdem er all jene Scharen—die Bhadrāns, Rohitakas, Āgreyas und Mālavas—unterworfen hatte, schien er, der Ordner von Politik und Gesetz, beinahe zu lächeln, als wären Sieg und Herrschaft für ihn eine Sache disziplinierter Strategie und nicht bloßer Gewalt.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights nīti—disciplined governance and strategic order—as the ethical frame for power: conquest is portrayed not as uncontrolled violence but as controlled subduing that enables rule and stability.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that a ruler/leader has defeated multiple regional groups (Bhadras, Rohitakas, Āgreyas, Mālavas) and, having brought all their bands under control, appears calmly confident—almost smiling—after establishing dominance.