Shloka 8
नकुलस्य प्रतीची-दिग्विजयः
Nakula’s Conquest of the Western Quarter
सो<श्वमेधेश्वरं राजन् रोचमानं सहानुगम् । जिगाय समरे वीरो बलेन बलिनां वर:,महता बलचक्रेण परराष्ट्रावमर्दिना । हस्त्यश्वरथपूर्णेन दंशितेन प्रतापवान् २ ।।
so ’śvamedheśvaraṃ rājan rocamānaṃ sahānugam | jigāya samare vīro balena balināṃ varaḥ || mahatā balacakreṇa pararāṣṭrāvamardinā | hastyaśvarathapūrṇena daṃśitena pratāpavān || vṛto bharataśārdūlo dviṣacchokavivardhanaḥ |
Waiśampāyana berkata: Wahai Raja Janamejaya, Bhīma sang pahlawan—yang utama di antara orang-orang kuat—mengalahkan dalam pertempuran Raja Rocamāna, penguasa negeri Aśvamedha, beserta para pengikutnya. Dikelilingi roda kekuatan besar yang menghancurkan kerajaan-kerajaan musuh, dengan pasukan penuh gajah, kuda, dan kereta perang, lengkap bersenjata dan berzirah, harimau Bhārata itu maju atas titah Dharmarāja, menambah duka para lawan.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames military success within rajadharma: Bhīma’s strength is legitimate because it is exercised under Dharmarāja’s command and directed toward establishing political order. Power is portrayed as an instrument of duty and governance, not merely personal violence.
During the Pandavas’ campaign of conquest, Bhīma marches with a large, well-equipped army and defeats Rocamāna, the ruler of the Aśvamedha region, along with his attendants, thereby subduing hostile territory.