Shloka 8
नकुलस्य प्रतीची-दिग्विजयः
Nakula’s Conquest of the Western Quarter
सो<श्वमेधेश्वरं राजन् रोचमानं सहानुगम् । जिगाय समरे वीरो बलेन बलिनां वर:,महता बलचक्रेण परराष्ट्रावमर्दिना । हस्त्यश्वरथपूर्णेन दंशितेन प्रतापवान् २ ।। वृतो भरतशार्टूलो द्विषच्छोकविवर्द्धन: । वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! इसी समय शत्रुओंका शोक बढ़ानेवाले भरतवंशशिरोमणि महाप्रतापी एवं पराक्रमी भीमसेन भी धर्मराजकी आज्ञा ले, शत्रुके राज्यको कुचल देनेवाली और हाथी, घोड़े एवं रथसे भरी हुई, कवच आदिसे सुसज्जित विशाल सेनाके साथ पूर्व दिशाको जीतनेके लिये चले जनमेजय! बलवानोंमें श्रेष्ठ वीरवर भीमने अश्वमेध-देशके राजा रोचमानको उनके सेवकोंसहित बलपूर्वक जीत लिया
so ’śvamedheśvaraṃ rājan rocamānaṃ sahānugam | jigāya samare vīro balena balināṃ varaḥ || mahatā balacakreṇa pararāṣṭrāvamardinā | hastyaśvarathapūrṇena daṃśitena pratāpavān || vṛto bharataśārdūlo dviṣacchokavivardhanaḥ |
Vaiśampāyana said: O King (Janamejaya), that heroic Bhīma—foremost among the strong—defeated in battle the king Rocamāna, lord of the Aśvamedha country, together with his followers. Surrounded by a vast, well-armed host—filled with elephants, horses, and chariots—whose wheel of force crushed hostile realms, the mighty Bharata-tiger advanced, increasing the sorrow of his enemies. Acting under the command of Dharmarāja, his conquest is presented as disciplined royal duty rather than mere personal aggression.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames military success within rajadharma: Bhīma’s strength is legitimate because it is exercised under Dharmarāja’s command and directed toward establishing political order. Power is portrayed as an instrument of duty and governance, not merely personal violence.
During the Pandavas’ campaign of conquest, Bhīma marches with a large, well-equipped army and defeats Rocamāna, the ruler of the Aśvamedha region, along with his attendants, thereby subduing hostile territory.