Shloka 26
Adhyāya 8: Saṃprahāra-varṇana and Bhīma–Kṣemadhūrti Dvipa-Yuddha
Combat Description and Elephant Duel
दुर्योधनस्य वृद्धयर्थ कृत्स्नामुर्वीमथाजयत् | यं लब्ध्वा मागधो राजा सान्त्वमानो5थ सौहदै:
duryodhanasya vṛddhyarthaṃ kṛtsnām urvīm athājayat | yaṃ labdhvā māgadho rājā sāntvamāno 'tha sauhṛdaiḥ ||
វៃសម្បាយនៈបានមានពាក្យថា៖ ដើម្បីលើកស្ទួយដុរយោធនៈ គាត់បានចេញទៅឈ្នះយកផែនដីទាំងមូល។ ពេលស្តេចមគធៈបានទទួលគាត់ជាអ្នកជំនួយហើយ បន្ទាប់មកក៏ព្យាយាមទាក់ទាញចិត្តគាត់—ដោយពាក្យសម្រួល និងសញ្ញាមិត្តភាព។
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a political-ethical dynamic: conquest and expansion undertaken to strengthen a ruler, followed by diplomacy—conciliation and friendship—as a means to secure or stabilize relationships. It reflects the Mahābhārata’s attention to statecraft where force and persuasion operate together.
The narrator states that, for Duryodhana’s benefit, a figure (implied from the surrounding context) subdues the whole realm. After this person is secured/obtained, the king of Magadha approaches with conciliatory speech and friendly overtures, indicating an attempt to form or maintain an alliance.