Shloka 22

Rājasūya-sambhāra: Prosperity under Rājadharma and the Initiation of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

ततः पुण्ड्राधिपं वीरं॑ वासुदेव॑ं महाबलम्‌ | कौशिकीकच्छनिलयं राजानं च महौजसम्‌

Transliteration

tataḥ pauṇḍrādhipaṃ vīraṃ vāsudevaṃ mahābalam | kauśikīkacchanilayaṃ rājānaṃ ca mahaujasam ||

Translation

ヴァイシャンパーヤナは語った。ついでビーマセーナは、プンドラの地を治め、カウシキー（コーシー）河畔の湿地低地に住まう大力の勇士ヴァースデーヴァと戦いを交えた。両者はともに剛健で、その武勇は抗しがたい。ビーマは戦場にて敵対するヴァースデーヴァを打ち破り、さらに進んでヴァンガの王を攻めた—この段は、義務に駆られて止むことなき遠征の推進力を示し、刹帝利の戦の掟と王者の武威が正面衝突によって試されることを語っている。

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: Avyaya

• पुण्ड्र-अधिपम्: the lord of Puṇḍra
• पुण्ड्र-अधिपम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिप (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वीरम्: the hero
• वीरम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• वासुदेवम्: Vāsudeva
• वासुदेवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• महा-बलम्: of great strength
• महा-बलम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कौशिकी-कच्छ-निलयम्: dwelling in the sandbanks (floodplain) of the Kauśikī (river)
• कौशिकी-कच्छ-निलयम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निलय (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• राजानम्: the king
• राजानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: Avyaya

• महा-ओजसम्: of great vigor/splendor
• महा-ओजसम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ओजस् (प्रातिपदिकम्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bhīmasena
• Vāsudeva (king of Puṇḍra)
• Puṇḍra (Pauṇḍra-deśa)
• Kauśikī (Kosi) river
• Kaccha (marshy tract/riverine lowland)
• Vaṅga (kingdom)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in practice: rulers and warriors are measured by courage, endurance, and adherence to the martial code in direct combat, while the campaign’s onward drive reflects the political-ethical logic of conquest in epic society.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīmasena meets and fights Vāsudeva, the powerful ruler of Puṇḍra who lives near the Kauśikī (Kosi) river’s marshlands. Bhīma defeats him and then proceeds to attack the king of Vaṅga as the campaign continues.