Shloka 16

Bhīmasena’s Digvijaya and Tribute Return (भीमस्य दिग्विजयः धननिवेदनं च)

Devanagari script

पौरवं युधि निर्जित्य दस्यून्‌ पर्वतवासिन: । गणानुत्सवसंकेतानजयत्‌ सप्त पाण्डव:,पौरवको युद्धमें जीतकर पर्वतनिवासी लुटेरोंके सात दलोंपर, जो “उत्सवसंकेत' कहलाते थे, पाण्डुकुमार अर्जुनने विजय प्राप्त की

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca | pauravaṃ yudhi nirjitya dasyūn parvatavāsinaḥ | gaṇān utsavasaṅketān ajayat sapta pāṇḍavaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: Having defeated the Paurava in battle, the seventh Pāṇḍava, Arjuna, went on to subdue the mountain-dwelling bandits—organized in companies known as “Utsavasaṅketa.”

Word by Word

पौरवम्the Paurava (enemy/descendant of Puru)

युधिin battle

निर्जित्यhaving conquered

दस्यून्robbers, bandits

पर्वतवासिनःmountain-dwelling

गणान्groups, troops

उत्सवसंकेतान्those called 'festival-signals' (name of the troops)

अजयत्conquered, defeated

सप्तseven

पाण्डवान्the Pandavas

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Paurava

Arjuna

Pāṇḍava

mountain-dwelling bandits (dasyu)

Utsavasaṅketa (named bands/companies)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights rājadharma: a warrior-king’s obligation to curb banditry and protect social order. Conquest here is framed not as mere expansion but as the ethical subduing of lawless violence for the safety of people.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana reports that Arjuna first defeats an opponent termed ‘Paurava’ in battle, and then overcomes mountain-dwelling robbers grouped into seven companies known as ‘Utsavasaṅketa,’ bringing them under control.