Shloka 16
मरुत्तोपाख्यान-प्रस्तावः — Genealogy to Marutta and the Logistics of Royal Sacrifice
ततस्तानजयत् सर्वान् प्रातिसीमान् नराधिपान् | एतस्मात् कारणाद् राजन् विश्रुत: स करन्धम:
tatastān ajayat sarvān prātisīmān narādhipān | etasmāt kāraṇād rājan viśrutaḥ sa karandhamaḥ ||
Then he overcame all the kings who dwelt along the frontiers of his realm. For this reason, O King, he became renowned as Karandhama—so named because he “pressed down/checked the kara (tribute/tax),” that is, he subdued harsh exactions and frontier threats through decisive strength and support.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler’s dharma includes securing the realm’s borders and restraining harmful pressures on subjects; true renown arises from effective protection and just control over tribute/exactions, not merely from conquest.
Vyāsa explains that Karandhama, aided by support (as implied by the surrounding context), defeated all hostile kings living along his kingdom’s frontiers; because he ‘checked/pressed down’ the kara (tribute/tax) and subdued frontier threats, he became famous by the name Karandhama.