Shloka 8
Rājasūya-sambhāra: Prosperity under Rājadharma and the Initiation of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Sacrifice
ततो मत्स्यान् महातेजा मलदांश्व महाबलान्,तत्पश्चात् महातेजस्वी कुन्तीकुमारने मत्स्य, महाबली मलद, अनघ और अभय नामक देशोंको जीतकर पशुभूमि (पशुपतिनाथके निकटवर्ती स्थान--नेपाल)-को भी सब ओरसे जीत लिया। वहाँसे लौटकर महाबाहु भीमने मदधार पर्वत और सोमधेयनिवासियों-को परास्त किया। इसके बाद बलवान् भीमने उत्तराभिमुख यात्रा की और वत्सभूमिपर बलपूर्वक अधिकार जमा लिया
tato matsyān mahātejā maladāṁś ca mahābalān | tatpaścāt mahātejasvī kuntīkumaras tadā | matsyān maladān anaghābhayasaṁjñitān janapadān jitvā paśubhūmim api sarvataḥ parājitya | tataḥ pratinivṛtya mahābāhur bhīmo madadhāraparvataṁ somadheyanivāsinaś ca parājitya | tataḥ paraṁ balavān bhīma uttarābhimukhaṁ yātrāṁ kṛtvā vatsabhūmau balāt svāmitvaṁ cakāra ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Then the mighty and radiant Bhīma subdued the Matsyas and the powerful Maladas. After that, the illustrious son of Kuntī conquered the realms known as Anagha and Abhaya, and also brought Paśubhūmi under control on all sides. Returning from there, the strong-armed Bhīma defeated the people dwelling around Mount Madadhāra and those of Somadheya. Thereafter, the valiant Bhīma marched northward and, by force of arms, established dominion over the land of the Vatsas.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the acquisition of sovereignty through strength during a royal campaign, while the broader epic context frames such power as legitimate only when aligned with rightful rule and restraint—conquest is a means to political order, not an end in itself.
Bhīma, as part of the Pāṇḍavas’ campaign connected with Yudhiṣṭhira’s imperial project, subdues several regions—Matsya, Malada, Anagha, Abhaya, Paśubhūmi—then defeats groups near Madadhāra and Somadheya, and finally establishes control over Vatsa by marching north.