Shloka 9
सतं निर्जित्य कौन्तेयो नातितीव्रेण कर्मणा । पूर्वदेशं महावीरयों विजिग्ये कुरुनन्दन:,महता बलचक्रेण परराष्ट्रावमर्दिना । हस्त्यश्वरथपूर्णेन दंशितेन प्रतापवान् २ ।। वृतो भरतशार्टूलो द्विषच्छोकविवर्द्धन: । वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! इसी समय शत्रुओंका शोक बढ़ानेवाले भरतवंशशिरोमणि महाप्रतापी एवं पराक्रमी भीमसेन भी धर्मराजकी आज्ञा ले, शत्रुके राज्यको कुचल देनेवाली और हाथी, घोड़े एवं रथसे भरी हुई, कवच आदिसे सुसज्जित विशाल सेनाके साथ पूर्व दिशाको जीतनेके लिये चले उन्हें हराकर महापराक्रमी कुरुनन्दन कुन्तीकुमार भीमने कोमल बर्तावके द्वारा ही पूर्ववेशपर विजय प्राप्त कर ली
vaiśampāyana uvāca | sataṁ nirjitya kaunteyo nātitīvreṇa karmaṇā | pūrvadeśaṁ mahāvīryo vijigye kurunandanaḥ || mahatā balacakreṇa pararāṣṭrāvamardinā | hasty-aśva-ratha-pūrṇena daṁśitena pratāpavān || vṛto bharataśārdūlo dviṣac-choka-vivardhanaḥ |
Vaiśampāyana said: Having subdued the hostile chiefs, the son of Kuntī—mighty Kurunandana—won the eastern region, not by excessively harsh measures, but through restrained action. Surrounded by a vast, well-ordered host that crushed enemy kingdoms—filled with elephants, horses, and chariots, and fully armed—this valiant tiger among the Bharatas advanced, increasing the sorrow of his foes. The narrative underscores conquest carried out under royal command with controlled force rather than needless cruelty.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power is to be exercised under rightful command with restraint: conquest should avoid needless harshness (nāti-tīvreṇa karmaṇā) while still protecting order and fulfilling royal duty (rājadharma).
Vaiśampāyana reports that Bhīma, attended by a large, fully equipped army of elephants, horses, and chariots, proceeds to conquer the eastern region and subdues enemy realms, emphasizing that he does so without excessive severity.