Shloka 3
जयद्रथविमोचन–पलायनवृत्तान्तः
Recovery of Draupadī and Jayadratha’s flight
करं च दापयामास द्रुपदं नृपसत्तम । त॑ विनिर्जित्य राजेन्द्र राजानस्तस्य येडनुगा:
karaṃ ca dāpayāmāsa drupadaṃ nṛpasattama | taṃ vinirjitya rājendra rājānas tasya ye 'nugāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Having subdued Drupada, the best of kings compelled him to pay tribute. And after decisively defeating him, O king, he likewise brought under control the other rulers who were allied with Drupada and followed his cause.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse reflects rājadharma: a king’s political authority is expressed through conquest and the collection of kara (tribute), extending control not only over a rival ruler but also over his allied network—linking sovereignty with responsibility for order.
After defeating Drupada, the victorious king forces him to pay tribute and then subdues the other kings who supported Drupada, consolidating dominance over that faction.