Shloka 22
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 bharataśārdūlo dviṣac-choka-vivardhanaḥ |
Vaiśampāyana dit : Ce héros de grande puissance—tigre parmi les Bharata—était entouré d’une immense armée ordonnée comme une roue de guerre, capable d’écraser les royaumes ennemis ; elle regorgeait d’éléphants, de chevaux et de chars, et se trouvait pleinement pourvue d’armes et d’armures. Ainsi s’accroissait le chagrin des adversaires. Dans l’horizon moral de l’épopée, le vers souligne le devoir royal : une puissance disciplinée et bien équipée, exercée contre les terres hostiles sous un commandement légitime.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic-political principle: rightful rule is upheld not merely by intent but by disciplined, well-ordered strength under command. Power is portrayed as ethically situated when deployed in service of legitimate royal duty against hostile realms.
Vaiśampāyana describes a leading Bharata hero proceeding with a massive, fully equipped army—elephants, horses, and chariots in organized formation—so formidable that it increases the sorrow of opposing kings. In the surrounding episode (as reflected in the Gītā Press context), this aligns with the campaign of conquest undertaken on the Pāṇḍavas’ behalf.