Shloka 22
यत्र सर्वान् महीपालाउछस्त्रतेजो भयार्दितान् । सवज्ाज्रान् सपौण्ड्रोड़़ान् सचोलद्राविडान्ध्रकान्,“उस समय सब भूमिपाल पाण्डवोंके शस्त्रोंके तेजसे भयभीत थे। अंग, वंग, पुण्ड्र, उड़, चोल, द्राविड़, आन्ध्र, सागरतटवर्ती द्वीप तथा समुद्रके समीप निवास करनेवाले जो राजा थे, वे सभी राजसूययज्ञमें उपस्थित थे। सिंहल, बर्बर, म्लेच्छ, लंकानिवासी, पश्चिमके राष्ट्र सागरके निकटवर्ती सैकड़ों प्रदेश, पह्लव, दरद, समस्त किरात, यवन, शक, हारहूण, चीन, तुषार, सैन्धव, जागुड़, रामठ, मुण्ड, स्त्रीराज्य, तंगण, केकय, मालव तथा काश्मीरदेशके नरेश भी राजसूययज्ञमें बुलाये गये थे और मैंने उन सबको आपके यज्ञमें रसोई परोसते देखा था
sañjaya uvāca | yatra sarvān mahīpālāñ śastratejo-bhayārditān | sāṅgavāṅgān sapauṇḍroḍān sacoladrāviḍāndhrakān ||
Sañjaya said: There, all the kings of the earth—struck with fear by the blazing prowess of the Pāṇḍavas’ weapons—were present: the rulers of Aṅga and Vaṅga, of Pauṇḍra and Uḍa, and of the Coḷa, Drāviḍa, and Āndhra lands. The scene underscores how imperial ritual and political order were secured not merely by ceremony, but by the awe inspired by martial power.
संजय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a political-ethical reality in epic kingship: sovereignty and ritual supremacy (such as a great royal sacrifice) are sustained by recognized strength. The fear of the Pāṇḍavas’ martial brilliance functions as deterrence, compelling rival rulers to acknowledge an imperial order.
Sañjaya describes an assembly of many regional kings who are present on a significant occasion (contextually, the imperial gathering connected with the Pāṇḍavas’ ascendancy). He notes that these rulers are intimidated by the radiance and power of the Pāṇḍavas’ weapons, and he enumerates prominent eastern and southern peoples/kingdoms among those gathered.