Shloka 6
Adhyāya 31: Rājasūya-samāgama — The Gathering of Kings and the Ordering of Hospitality
नरराष्ट्रं च निर्जित्य कुन्तिभोजमुपाद्रवत् । प्रीतिपूर्व च तस्यासौ प्रतिजग्राह शासनम्,फिर नरराष्ट्रको जीतकर राजा कुन्तिभोजपर धावा किया। परंतु कुन्तिभोजने प्रसन्नताके साथ ही उसका शासन स्वीकार कर लिया
nara-rāṣṭraṃ ca nirjitya kuntibhojam upādravat | prītipūrvaṃ ca tasyāsau pratijagrāha śāsanam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Having conquered the realm of the Naras, he then advanced against King Kuntibhoja. Yet Kuntibhoja, with goodwill and satisfaction, accepted his authority—showing that political submission can arise not only from fear of force but also from prudent consent to an established power.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a rājadharma-oriented insight: stable rule is not sustained by force alone; wise rulers may accept another’s sovereignty willingly (prītipūrvam) when it preserves order and minimizes harm.
After defeating the Nara-rāṣṭra, the advancing king moves against Kuntibhoja; however, Kuntibhoja does not resist and instead accepts the conqueror’s authority in a friendly, consenting manner.