Shloka 20
Adhyāya 32: Rājasūya-Dīkṣā and Appointment of Court Offices (राजसूयदीक्षा तथा अधिकारविनियोगः)
एवं विजित्य नकुलो दिशं वरुणपालिताम् | प्रतीचीं वासुदेवेन निर्जितां भरतर्षभ
evaṁ vijitya nakulo diśaṁ varuṇapālitām | pratīcīṁ vāsudevena nirjitāṁ bharatarṣabha ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Thus Nakula, having conquered the western quarter protected by Varuṇa—a region already brought under control by Vāsudeva, O bull among the Bharatas—returned to Indraprastha.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Victory is presented as part of righteous kingship: expansion and consolidation should align with legitimate authority and established order (here, a region already subdued under Vāsudeva’s overarching power), emphasizing governance over mere aggression.
During the Pāṇḍavas’ campaigns connected with imperial consolidation, Nakula conquers the western quarter associated with Varuṇa and then returns to Indraprastha; the verse notes that this western region had already been brought under control by Vāsudeva.