Shloka 11
नकुलस्य प्रतीची-दिग्विजयः
Nakula’s Conquest of the Western Quarter
ततस्तु धर्मराजस्य शासनाद् भरतर्षभ: । शिशुपालं महावीर्यमभ्यगाज्जनमेजय,महता बलचक्रेण परराष्ट्रावमर्दिना । हस्त्यश्वरथपूर्णेन दंशितेन प्रतापवान् २ ।।
tatas tu dharmarājasya śāsanād bharatarṣabhaḥ | śiśupālaṃ mahāvīryam abhyagāj janamejaya, mahatā balacakreṇa pararāṣṭrāvamardinā | hastyaśvarathapūrṇena daṃśitena pratāpavān || vṛto bharataśārṭūlo dviṣacchokavivardhanaḥ |
वैशंपायन म्हणाले—हे जनमेजय! त्यानंतर धर्मराजाच्या आज्ञेने भरतश्रेष्ठ, महावीर्य भीम, महापराक्रमी शिशुपालाकडे गेला. परराष्ट्रांना चिरडणाऱ्या महाबलचक्राने वेढलेला, हत्ती-घोडे-रथांनी परिपूर्ण व शस्त्र-कवचांनी सज्ज असा तो भरतशार्दूल शत्रूंचा शोक वाढवीत, राजवचन पाळण्यासाठी पुढे निघाला.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames warfare and expansion as legitimate only when grounded in rightful authority and duty: the hero acts under Dharmarāja’s command, suggesting that power should be exercised as an instrument of ordered kingship (rājadharma), not personal impulse.
Vaiśampāyana tells Janamejaya that, following Yudhiṣṭhira’s instruction, a leading Bharata warrior advances toward Śiśupāla with a large, well-equipped army formation—elephants, horses, and chariots—intended to subdue hostile realms and secure political submission.