Shloka 13
Rājasūya-sambhāra: Prosperity under Rājadharma and the Initiation of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Sacrifice
शर्मकान् वर्मकांश्वैव व्यजयत् सान्त्वपूर्वकम् । वैदेहक॑ च राजानं जनक॑ जगतीपतिम्,शर्मक और वर्मकोंको उन्होंने समझा-बुझाकर ही जीत लिया। विदेह देशके राजा जनकको भी पुरुषसिंह भीमने अधिक उग्र प्रयास किये बिना ही परास्त किया। फिर शकों और बर्बरोंपर छलसे विजय प्राप्त कर ली
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
śarmakān varmakāṃś caiva vyajayat sāntvapūrvakam |
vaidehakaṃ ca rājānaṃ janakaṃ jagatīpatim |
Vaiśampāyana said: He overcame the Śarmakas and the Varmakas by first employing conciliation. He also subdued Janaka, the king of Videha, a lord of the earth—achieving victory without resorting to excessive harshness. The passage underscores a graded ethic of statecraft: winning where possible through persuasion and restraint, and reserving force or stratagem for those who cannot be brought to order by gentler means.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethical hierarchy in political action: victory should be sought first through sāntva (conciliation/persuasion), minimizing violence and coercion; force is not the default but a last resort when peaceful submission is possible.
In the account of subjugations during the Sabha Parva, the hero’s campaign includes defeating the Śarmakas and Varmakas through conciliation and also bringing Janaka of Videha under control, emphasizing controlled, non-excessive means of conquest.