Shloka 8
भीमस्य जलान्वेषणं तथा वनविश्रान्तिः
Bhīma’s Search for Water and the Forest Halt
तदनन्तर दुर्योधन, कर्ण, महाबली युयुत्सु, दुःशासन, विकर्ण, जलसंध तथा सुलोचन-- ये और दूसरे भी बहुत-से महापराक्रमी नरश्रेष्ठ क्षत्रियशिरोमणि राजकुमार “पहले मैं युद्ध करूँगा, पहले मैं युद्ध करूँगा” इस प्रकार कहते हुए पंचालदेशमें जा पहुँचे और वहाँके निवासियोंको मारते-पीटते हुए महाबली राजा द्रुपदकी राजधानीको भी रौंदने लगे || ५-- ७ ।। ततो वररथारूढा: कुमारा: सादिभि: सह । प्रविश्य नगरं सर्वे राजमार्गमुपाययु:,उत्तम रथोंपर बैठे हुए वे सभी राजकुमार घुड़सवारोंके साथ नगरमें घुसकर वहाँके राजपथपर चलने लगे
tato vararathārūḍhāḥ kumārāḥ sādibhiḥ saha | praviśya nagaraṃ sarve rājamārgam upāyayuḥ ||
Then Duryodhana, Karṇa, the mighty Yuyutsu, Duḥśāsana, Vikarṇa, Jalaṃdha, and Sulochana—along with many other princes, foremost among kṣatriyas—crying, “I will fight first! I will fight first!”, reached the land of the Pañcālas, beating and slaying its people and trampling even the capital of the powerful King Drupada. After that, all those princes, mounted on excellent chariots and accompanied by horsemen, entered the city and proceeded along the royal highway.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how displays of royal military power—entering a city in force along the royal highway—can function as intimidation. Ethically, it points to the tension between kṣatriya valor and the misuse of strength when it disregards the security and dignity of others.
The princes, riding fine chariots and accompanied by mounted troops, enter the city and move along its main royal road, marking the beginning of a forceful incursion and setting the stage for violence against the local populace and the targeting of the ruler’s seat of power.