Shloka 1
Rājasūya-sambhāra: Prosperity under Rājadharma and the Initiation of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Sacrifice
ऑपन-माज बक। अऑपफि-छऋाज-ज त्रिशो&्थ्याय: भीमका पूर्व दिशाके अनेक देशों तथा राजाओंको जीतकर भारी धन-सम्पत्तिके साथ इन्द्रप्रस्थमें लौटना वैशम्पायन उवाच ततः कुमारविषये श्रेणिमन्तमथाजयत् । कोसलाधिपतिं चैव बृहद्धलमरिंदम:,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! तदनन्तर शत्रुओंका दमन करनेवाले भीमसेनने कुमारदेशके राजा श्रेणिमान् तथा कोसलराज बृहद्वलको परास्त किया
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tataḥ kumāraviṣaye śreṇimantam athājayat | kosalādhipatiṃ caiva bṛhaddhalam arindamaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Thereafter Bhīmasena, the subduer of foes, conquered Śreṇimān, the king in the region of Kumāra, and also Bṛhaddhala, the lord of Kośala. The narrative underscores the Pāṇḍavas’ expanding sovereignty through disciplined conquest and the gathering of wealth in service of Yudhiṣṭhira’s imperial design, not for private gain.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames conquest as a function of righteous kingship: Bhīma’s victories are presented as disciplined subjugation of rival rulers to consolidate a lawful imperial order for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya, emphasizing duty and statecraft over personal aggression.
During the Pandavas’ campaign of conquest (digvijaya) in preparation for the Rājasūya, Bhīmasena defeats Śreṇimān of the Kumāra region and Bṛhaddhala, the king of Kośala, extending Indraprastha’s influence.