Shloka 11
नकुलस्य प्रतीची-दिग्विजयः
Nakula’s Conquest of the Western Quarter
ततस्तु धर्मराजस्य शासनाद् भरतर्षभ: । शिशुपालं महावीर्यमभ्यगाज्जनमेजय,महता बलचक्रेण परराष्ट्रावमर्दिना । हस्त्यश्वरथपूर्णेन दंशितेन प्रतापवान् २ ।।
tatas tu dharmarājasya śāsanād bharatarṣabhaḥ | śiśupālaṃ mahāvīryam abhyagāj janamejaya, mahatā balacakreṇa pararāṣṭrāvamardinā | hastyaśvarathapūrṇena daṃśitena pratāpavān || vṛto bharataśārṭūlo dviṣacchokavivardhanaḥ |
Waiśampāyana berkata: Kemudian, wahai Janamejaya, atas perintah Dharmarāja, Bhīma—yang terbaik di antara kaum Bhārata dan besar keberaniannya—berangkat menuju Śiśupāla yang sangat perkasa. Dikelilingi roda kekuatan besar yang menghancurkan kerajaan-kerajaan musuh, dengan pasukan penuh gajah, kuda, dan kereta perang serta lengkap bersenjata dan berzirah, harimau Bhārata itu maju, menambah duka para lawan, demi menunaikan titah raja.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames warfare and expansion as legitimate only when grounded in rightful authority and duty: the hero acts under Dharmarāja’s command, suggesting that power should be exercised as an instrument of ordered kingship (rājadharma), not personal impulse.
Vaiśampāyana tells Janamejaya that, following Yudhiṣṭhira’s instruction, a leading Bharata warrior advances toward Śiśupāla with a large, well-equipped army formation—elephants, horses, and chariots—intended to subdue hostile realms and secure political submission.