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 |
Waiśampāyana berkata: Wahai Janamejaya! Pada saat itu Bhīmasena—pahlawan perkasa, harimau di antara keturunan Bharata, penambah duka bagi musuh—menerima titah Dharmarāja dan berangkat menaklukkan penjuru timur, dikelilingi bala tentara besar bagaikan roda kekuatan yang melindas kerajaan-kerajaan lawan, penuh gajah, kuda, dan kereta, serta lengkap bersenjata dan berzirah.
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.