Shloka 18
मरुत्तोपाख्यान-प्रस्तावः — Genealogy to Marutta and the Logistics of Royal Sacrifice
तस्य सर्वे महीपाला वर्तन्ते सम वशे तदा । स हि सम्राडभूत् तेषां वृत्तेन च बलेन च,उस समयके सभी भूपाल कारन्धमके अधीन हो गये थे। वह अपने सदाचार और बलके द्वारा उन सबका सम्राट् हो गया था
tasya sarve mahīpālā vartante sama-vaśe tadā | sa hi samrāḍ abhūt teṣāṃ vṛttena ca balena ca ||
At that time, all the kings came under his equal and steady control. By his upright conduct and by his strength, he became the sovereign over them all.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
True sovereignty is portrayed as resting on a dual foundation: vṛtta (upright conduct, ethical restraint, good governance) and bala (strength, the capacity to protect and enforce order). Power alone is insufficient; legitimacy is completed by dharmic behavior.
Vyāsa states that, at that point in the story, all regional rulers accepted subordination to the central figure being described, coming under his control. Because he combined exemplary conduct with effective power, he was acknowledged as their emperor.