Shloka 18
Jarāsandha as Obstacle to the Rājasūya — Kṛṣṇa’s Strategic Genealogical Brief
Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 13
यस्मिन्नधिकृत: सम्राड् भ्राजमानो महायशा: । यत्र राजन् दश दिश: पितृतो मातृतस्तथा । अनुरक्ता: प्रजा आसन्नागोपाला द्विजातय:,राजन! दसों दिशाओंमें प्रकाशित होनेवाले वे महायशस्वी सम्राट् जिस देशपर अधिकार जमाते, वहाँ ग्वालोंसे लेकर ब्राह्मणोंतक सारी प्रजा उनके प्रति पिता-माताके समान भाव रखकर प्रेम करने लगती थी
yasminn adhikṛtaḥ samrāḍ bhrājamāno mahāyaśāḥ | yatra rājan daśa diśaḥ pitṛto mātṛtas tathā | anuraktāḥ prajā āsann āgopālā dvijātayaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Wherever that illustrious, radiant emperor held sovereign authority, O King, in all the ten directions the people—from cowherds to the twice-born—became devoted to him, loving him as they would a father and a mother.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ethical ideal of sovereignty: a ruler’s authority is most righteous and stable when it is exercised protectively and impartially, so that subjects naturally love him like parents—out of trust and gratitude rather than coercion.
Vaiśampāyana describes the reach and reputation of a great emperor’s rule: wherever he governs, across all directions, every class of people—from cowherds to the twice-born—becomes devoted to him, regarding him with parental affection.