Shloka 16
जयद्रथविमोचन–पलायनवृत्तान्तः
Recovery of Draupadī and Jayadratha’s flight
दक्षिणस्यां दिशि नृपान् करान् सर्वानदापयत् | उसने रणभूमिमें केरल नरेश, राजा नील तथा वेणुदारिपुत्रको हराया और दक्षिण दिशामें अन्य जितने प्रमुख भूपाल थे, उन सबको जीतकर उनसे कर वसूल किया ।। १५६ || शैशुपालिं ततो गत्वा विजिग्ये सूतनन्दन:
vaiśampāyana uvāca | dakṣiṇasyāṃ diśi nṛpān karān sarvān adāpayat | śaiśupāliṃ tato gatvā vijigye sūtanandanaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: In the southern quarter he compelled all the kings to render tribute. Then, proceeding to the land of the Śaiśupālas, the son of the charioteer (Karna) conquered it as well. The passage underscores the political ethic of imperial expansion in which victory is measured not only by battle but by the establishment of acknowledged overlordship through the payment of taxes—an act that both asserts power and imposes obligations on ruler and ruled.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse reflects a political-dharmic idea of sovereignty: conquest is completed when defeated rulers acknowledge overlordship by paying tribute. Such power carries ethical responsibility—rule must be maintained through order and protection, not mere violence.
Vaiśampāyana narrates Karṇa’s campaign: he subdues southern kings and exacts tribute from them, then advances to the Śaiśupāla-associated region and conquers it as well.