Shloka 5
Yogakṣema, Purohita, and the Mucukunda–Vaiśravaṇa Dialogue (योगक्षेम–पुरोहित–मुचुकुन्दवैश्रवणसंवादः)
ततो वैश्रवणो राजा राक्षसानसृजत् तदा । ते बलान्यवमृदूनन्त मुचुकुन्दस्य नैर#ऋता:,तब राजा कुबेरने उनका सामना करनेके लिये राक्षसोंकी सेना भेजी। उन राक्षसोंने मुचुकुन्दकी सेनाओंको कुचलना आरम्भ किया
tato vaiśravaṇo rājā rākṣasān asṛjat tadā | te balāny avamṛdūnanta mucukundasya nairṛtāḥ ||
Bhishma said: Then King Vaiśravaṇa (Kubera) dispatched the rākṣasas. Those nairṛtas began to crush the forces of Mucukunda.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of royal power: a king’s decision to deploy fearsome forces can decisively shape outcomes, reminding rulers that strategic choices carry responsibility for the suffering they unleash.
Kubera (Vaiśravaṇa) sends rākṣasas to confront the situation, and these nairṛtas begin overpowering and crushing Mucukunda’s troops.