Shloka 15
Rājasūya-sambhāra: Prosperity under Rājadharma and the Initiation of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Sacrifice
वैदेहस्थस्तु कौन्तेय इन्द्रपर्वतमन्तिकात् । किरातानामधिपतीनजयत् सप्त पाण्डव:
vaidehasthaḥ tu kaunteya indraparvatam antikāt | kirātānām adhipatīn ajayat sapta pāṇḍavaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Ketika masih berada di negeri Videha, Bhīma—putera Kuntī—menewaskan tujuh ketua Kirāta yang tinggal berhampiran Gunung Indraparvata. Episod ini menegaskan bahawa kempen penaklukan Pāṇḍava bertujuan menegakkan tertib politik dan menghimpun sumber bagi usaha diraja yang lebih besar; kekuatan digunakan demi kewajipan yang diikrarkan, bukan untuk rompakan semata-mata.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse reflects the kṣatriya ideal that power and warfare are to be exercised as part of a declared royal duty—establishing political order and enabling a legitimate imperial rite—rather than as private violence.
During the Pandavas’ conquest campaign connected with the Rājasūya, Bhīma stays in Videha and defeats seven Kirāta rulers living near Mount Indraparvata.