Shloka 3

Rājasūya-sambhāra: Prosperity under Rājadharma and the Initiation of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

ततो गोपालकक्षं च सोत्तरानपि कोसलान्‌ | मल्लानामधिपं चैव पार्थिवं चाजयत्‌ प्रभु:,तत्पश्चात्‌ शक्तिशाली पाण्डुकुमारने गोपालकक्ष और उत्तर कोसल देशको जीतकर मल्लराष्ट्रके अधिपति पार्थिवको अपने अधीन कर लिया

Transliteration

tato gopālakakṣaṃ ca sottarān api kosalān | mallānām adhipaṃ caiva pārthivaṃ cājayat prabhuḥ ||

Translation

Then the mighty son of Pāṇḍu subdued Gopālakakṣa and also the Kosalas together with their northern region; thereafter he conquered the king who ruled over the Mallas, bringing that realm under his authority.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

गोपालकक्षम्Gopālaka-kakṣa (a region/territory named Gopālaka-kakṣa)

चand

स-उत्तरान्together with the Uttaras (northern part/people)

अपिalso, even

कोसलान्the Kosalas

मल्लानाम्of the Mallas

अधिपम्the overlord, ruler

चand

एवindeed, just

पार्थिवम्the king (Pārthiva)

चand

अजयत्conquered

प्रभुःthe lord, the powerful one

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Pāṇḍukumāra (a Pandava prince)

Gopālakakṣa

Uttara Kosala

Kosala

Malla (Malla-rāṣṭra)

Pārthiva (king of the Mallas)

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 reflects the epic’s political-dharma lens: a capable ruler establishes order by bringing neighboring realms under a stable sovereignty, ideally to prevent disorder and to support legitimate royal aims (such as securing tribute, alliances, and recognition).

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates a sequence of conquests: the Pāṇḍu prince first subdues Gopālakakṣa and the Kosalas including their northern region, and then conquers the ruler of the Malla realm, making him subordinate.