Shloka 17
नकुलस्य प्रतीची-दिग्विजयः
Nakula’s Conquest of the Western Quarter
महता बलचक्रेण परराष्ट्रावमर्दिना । हस्त्यश्वरथपूर्णेन दंशितेन प्रतापवान् २ ।।
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
mahatā balacakreṇa pararāṣṭrāvamardinā |
hasty-aśva-ratha-pūrṇena daṃśitena pratāpavān ||
vṛto bharataśārṭūlo dviṣac-choka-vivardhanaḥ |
Vaiśampāyana dit : Ô Janamejaya ! En ce temps-là, Bhīmasena, héros d’une grande puissance, « tigre parmi les Bhārata », qui accroît le deuil des ennemis, ayant reçu l’ordre du Dharmarāja, se mit en marche pour soumettre l’Orient. Il était entouré d’une vaste roue de forces : une armée apte à broyer les royaumes adverses, pleine d’éléphants, de chevaux et de chars, et entièrement équipée d’armes et de cuirasses.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames warfare within rajadharma: force is legitimate when exercised under rightful command and for the ordered expansion or consolidation of a kingdom, emphasizing disciplined preparedness (daṃśita) and responsibility rather than personal vendetta.
Vaiśampāyana describes a leading Kuru hero, attended by a fully equipped, elephant-horse-chariot army, departing to crush hostile realms—specifically as part of the campaign to bring the eastern direction under control.