Shloka 20
जयद्रथविमोचन–पलायनवृत्तान्तः
Recovery of Draupadī and Jayadratha’s flight
भद्रान् रोहितकांश्वैव आग्रेयान् मालवानपि । गणान् सर्वान् विनिर्जित्य नीतिकृत् प्रहसन्निव
bhadrān rohitakāṁś caiva āgreyān mālavān api | gaṇān sarvān vinirjitya nītikṛt prahasann iva ||
Vaiśampāyana dijo: Tras someter a todas aquellas huestes—los Bhadrāns, los Rohitakas, los Āgreyas y los Mālavas—él, artífice de la política y del orden, parecía casi sonreír, como si para él la victoria y el gobierno fuesen asunto de estrategia disciplinada y no de mera fuerza.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights nīti—disciplined governance and strategic order—as the ethical frame for power: conquest is portrayed not as uncontrolled violence but as controlled subduing that enables rule and stability.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that a ruler/leader has defeated multiple regional groups (Bhadras, Rohitakas, Āgreyas, Mālavas) and, having brought all their bands under control, appears calmly confident—almost smiling—after establishing dominance.