Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

वशे चक्रे महाबाहुर्भीमो भीमपराक्रम: । बलवानोंमें श्रेष्ठ महापराक्रमी तथा भयंकर पुरुषार्थ प्रकट करनेवाले पाण्डुकुमार महाबाहु भीमसेनने समरमें पीठ न दिखानेवाले काशिराज सुबाहुको बलपूर्वक हराया ।।

Transliteration

vaśe cakre mahābāhur bhīmo bhīmaparākramaḥ | balavānāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ mahāparākramaḥ tathā bhayaṅkara-puruṣārtha-prakaṭa-karaḥ pāṇḍu-kumāro mahābāhuḥ bhīmaseno 'pi samare pṛṣṭhaṃ na darśayantaṃ kāśirājaṃ subāhukaṃ balapūrvakaṃ harayām āsa || tataḥ supārśvam abhitas tathā rājapatiṃ krathum ... |

Translation

വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു— മഹാബാഹുവും ഭയങ്കര പരാക്രമശാലിയുമായ ഭീമൻ എല്ലാവരെയും തന്റെ വശത്തിലാക്കി. ബലവാന്മാരിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠനായ പാണ്ഡവൻ ഭീമസേനൻ, യുദ്ധത്തിൽ പിൻതിരിയാത്ത കാശിരാജൻ സുബാഹുവിനെ ബലപ്രയോഗത്തോടെ പരാജയപ്പെടുത്തി അധീനനാക്കി. തുടർന്ന് സുപാർശ്വനെയും രാജാധിപതി ക്രഥനെയും കൂടി ജയിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• वशे: in (his) control, under sway
• वशे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: वश
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• चक्रे: made, brought (under control)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

• महाबाहुः: the mighty-armed (one)
• महाबाहुः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महाबाहु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भीमः: Bhima
• भीमः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• भीमपराक्रमः: of terrible valor
• भीमपराक्रमः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीमपराक्रम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• सुपार्श्वम्: Suparshva (a person)
• सुपार्श्वम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुपार्श्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अभितः: around, on all sides
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभितः

• तथा: also, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• राजपतिम्: the lord of kings / kingly leader (a person/epithet)
• राजपतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजपति
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• क्रथम्: Kratha (a person)
• क्रथम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रथ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Bhīma (Bhīmasena)
• Pāṇḍava (Pāṇḍu-kumāra)
• Subāhu
• Kāśī (Kāśirājya)
• Supārśva
• Krathu

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights kṣatriya-dharma in its martial aspect: steadfastness in battle (not turning one’s back) is praised, yet superior strength and disciplined exertion can lawfully subdue even a courageous opponent within the context of royal conquest.

What is happening in the narrative?

During the Pāṇḍavas’ campaign of subjugating kings, Bhīma defeats Subāhu, the king of Kāśī, who is described as not retreating in battle; Bhīma then proceeds to subdue other rulers such as Supārśva and Krathu.