Shloka 31
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 113 — Maryādā-sthāpana (Śvetaketu’s Boundary) and the Niyoga Deliberation of Pāṇḍu and Kuntī
ते ससेना: ससेनेन विध्वंसितबला तपा: । पाण्डुना वशगा: कृत्वा कुरुकर्मसु योजिता:,सेनासहित राजा पाण्डुने सामने आये हुए सैन्यसहित नरपतियोंकी सारी सेनाएँ नष्ट कर दीं और उन्हें अपने अधीन करके कौरवोंके आज्ञापालनमें नियुक्त कर दिया
te sasenāḥ sasenena vidhvaṃsitabalāḥ tadā | pāṇḍunā vaśagāḥ kṛtvā kurukarmasu yojitāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Then those kings, together with their armies, had their forces shattered by Pāṇḍu’s army. Having brought them under his control, Pāṇḍu appointed them to carry out the tasks of the Kurus—thus turning defeated rivals into obligated allies under Kuru authority.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a rājadharma principle: a victorious king not only defeats opponents but also integrates them into a stable political order. Power is shown as responsibility—subjugation is followed by administration, assigning the subdued rulers to serve the larger Kuru polity rather than allowing chaos or endless retaliation.
Pāṇḍu confronts other kings who come with their armies. His forces rout them, destroying their military strength. He then brings those rulers under his control and employs them in Kuru affairs, effectively converting defeated adversaries into subordinate allies or vassals.