Shloka 12
Virāṭanagara-nivāsa-nirṇaya
Decision to Reside in Virāṭa’s City
सन्ति रम्या जनपदा बद्धन्ना: परित: कुरून् | पाज्चालाश्रैदिमत्स्याश्व॒ शूरसेना: पटच्चरा:
santi ramyā janapadā baddhānnāḥ paritaḥ kurūn | pāñcālāś caidimatsyāś ca śūrasenāḥ paṭaccarāḥ ||
Arjuna dit : «Tout autour du pays des Kurus s’étendent de nombreuses provinces délicieuses, riches en grains amassés. On y compte les Pāñcālas, les Cedis, les Matsyas, les Śūrasenas et les Paṭaccaras.»
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic ideal of governance: a well-ordered realm is recognized by abundance and secure food stores, and political awareness includes knowing the surrounding janapadas—resources, allies, and neighboring powers.
Arjuna enumerates the prosperous neighboring regions around the Kuru country, naming prominent janapadas such as Pāñcāla, Cedi, Matsya, and Śūrasena, situating the story within a concrete political-geographical landscape.