Shloka 24
Kalmāṣapāda’s Encounter with Śakti and the Escalation of the Vasiṣṭha–Viśvāmitra Feud (कल्माषपाद–शक्ति प्रसङ्गः)
अतः: प्रयतितं राज्ये यज्ञसेन त्वया सह । राजासि दक्षिणे कूले भागीरथ्याहमुत्तरे,द्रोणाचार्य बोले--राजन्! मैं फिर भी तुमसे मित्रताके लिये प्रार्थना करता हूँ। यज्ञसेन! तुमने कहा था, जो राजा नहीं है, वह राजाका मित्र नहीं हो सकता; अतः मैंने राज्यप्राप्तिके लिये तुम्हारे साथ युद्धका प्रयास किया है। तुम गंगाके दक्षिणतटके राजा रहो और मैं उत्तरतटका
ataḥ prayatitaṁ rājye yajñasena tvayā saha | rājāsi dakṣiṇe kūle bhāgīrathyāham uttare ||
Therefore I have exerted myself to obtain a kingdom, even by striving against you, O Yajñasena. You had declared that one who is not a king cannot be a king’s friend; hence I sought sovereignty through conflict with you. Be you the king on the southern bank of the Bhāgīrathī (Gaṅgā), and I shall be on the northern bank—so that our relation may stand on equal footing and friendship may be possible. The passage frames war not as mere aggression but as a means to secure status and honor within a rigid social-political ethic of reciprocity.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights an ethic of reciprocity and status: friendship among rulers is framed as requiring parity in rank. It also shows how honor-codes can rationalize conflict—war is presented as a means to restore equality and thereby enable a morally acceptable relationship (friendship) within that social framework.
The speaker addresses Yajñasena (Drupada), explaining that because Drupada had insisted only a king can be a king’s friend, the speaker strove to obtain a kingdom by contending with him. He proposes a division along the Bhāgīrathī (Gaṅgā): Drupada rules the southern bank, while the speaker rules the northern bank.