Shloka 24

Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 113 — Maryādā-sthāpana (Śvetaketu’s Boundary) and the Niyoga Deliberation of Pāṇḍu and Kuntī

Devanagari script

स राजा देवगर्भाभो विजिगीषुर्वसुंधराम्‌ । हृष्टपुष्टबलै: प्रायात्‌ पाण्डु: शत्रूननेकश:,राजा पाण्डु देवकुमारके समान तेजस्वी थे। उन्होंने इस पृथ्वीपर विजय पानेकी इच्छासे हृष्ट-पुष्ट सैनिकोंके साथ अनेक शत्रुओंपर धावा किया

Transliteration

sa rājā devagarbhābho vijigīṣur vasuṃdharām | hṛṣṭapuṣṭabalaiḥ prāyāt pāṇḍuḥ śatrūn anekaśaḥ ||

Translation

Vaiśampāyana said: That king Pāṇḍu, radiant like a divine-born prince, desiring to conquer the earth, set forth with troops who were joyful and well-nourished, and he repeatedly fell upon many enemies. The verse frames royal ambition as a deliberate campaign of world-conquest, emphasizing vigor, preparedness, and the king’s martial resolve.

Word by Word

सःhe/that (man)

राजाking

देवगर्भाभःhaving the splendor/appearance of Devagarbha (a celestial-like radiance)

विजिगीषुःdesirous of conquering

वसुन्धराम्the earth

हृष्टपुष्टबलैःwith forces (troops) that were delighted and well-nourished/strong

प्रायात्set out / marched forth

पाण्डुःPāṇḍu

शत्रून्enemies

अनेकशःmany times / in many ways / in great numbers

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Pāṇḍu

vasuṃdharā (the Earth)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the kṣatriya ideal of energetic leadership: a king, endowed with splendor and resolve, mobilizes well-prepared forces to establish sovereignty. Ethically, it points to the tension between rightful rule (order and protection) and the drive for expansion (world-conquest), a recurring Mahābhārata concern.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes Pāṇḍu beginning his campaign of conquest. With strong, enthusiastic troops, he marches out and attacks numerous enemies, initiating a phase of military expansion and consolidation.