Shloka 28
Bhīmasena’s Digvijaya and Tribute Return (भीमस्य दिग्विजयः धननिवेदनं च)
मयूरसदृशानन्यानुत्तरानपरानपि । जवनानाशुगांश्वैव करार्थ समुपानयत्,इनके सिवा मोरके समान रंगवाले उत्तम, गतिशील और शीघ्रगामी दूसरे भी बहुत-से घोड़े वे करके रूपमें वसूल कर लाये
vaiśampāyana uvāca |
mayūrasadṛśān anyān uttamān aparān api |
javanān āśugāṁś caiva karārthaṁ samupānayat ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Selain kuda-kuda itu, baginda juga membawa pulang banyak lagi kuda unggul—berwarna seperti merak, tangkas dan pantas—yang dipungut sebagai ufti (cukai/bayaran dalam bentuk barangan). Petikan ini menekankan ekonomi politik pemerintahan raja, di mana kekayaan dan sumber, bahkan aset hidup seperti kuda, dihimpun sebagai kewajipan yang sah untuk menyokong kuasa dan urus tadbir negara.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic-political norm of ancient kingship: resources are gathered as kara (tribute/tax) to support governance and royal authority, and such collection is framed as an established duty within statecraft rather than mere personal acquisition.
In the course of describing wealth and offerings brought in, the narrator states that many superior horses—peacock-colored and very swift—were also brought as kara (tribute/payment), adding to the catalog of valuable items collected.