भीमस्य जलान्वेषणं तथा वनविश्रान्तिः
Bhīma’s Search for Water and the Forest Halt
प्रार्थयेयं त्वया सख्यं पुनरेव जनाधिप । वरं ददामि ते राजन् राज्यस्यार्धमवाप्रुहि
prārthayeyam tvayā sakhyaṃ punar eva janādhipa | varaṃ dadāmi te rājan rājyasyārdham avāpruhi ||
“Wahai tuan manusia, aku memohon sekali lagi akan persahabatanmu. Wahai raja, aku mengurniakan kepadamu satu anugerah—terimalah daripadaku separuh daripada kerajaan ini.”
वैशमग्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights a dharmic approach to conflict: restoring friendship through humility and a concrete act of fairness. Offering half the kingdom frames political power as negotiable in service of peace and right relationship.
A king addresses another ruler, renewing a request for friendship and formalizing it with a generous proposal: he offers a boon and invites the other to take half of the kingdom, signaling an attempt at settlement and alliance rather than hostility.