Shloka 16
Rājasūya-sambhāra: Prosperity under Rājadharma and the Initiation of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Sacrifice
ततः सुद्यान् प्रसुद्यांश्ष सपक्षानतिवीर्यवान् | विजित्य युधि कौन्तेयो मागधानभ्यधाद् बली
tataḥ sudyān prasudyāṁś ca sapakṣān ativīryavān | vijitya yudhi kaunteyo māgadhān abhyadhād balī ||
Kemudian, Bhīma, putera Kuntī yang gagah lagi perkasa, setelah menewaskan dalam pertempuran para raja Sudya dan Prasudya beserta sekutu-sekutu mereka, mara maju menentang kaum Magadha. Kisah ini menegaskan bahawa penaklukan Pāṇḍava bertujuan mengukuhkan legitimasi politik dan menghimpun sumber bagi matlamat dharmika yang lebih besar (upacara korban diraja), serta menggambarkan tenaga Bhīma yang keras itu diarahkan kepada tujuan yang diizinkan, bukan dendam peribadi.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power and warfare are depicted as ethically constrained instruments when directed toward a sanctioned royal duty (such as establishing sovereignty for a major rite). The verse frames conquest not as mere aggression but as part of a larger political-dharmic program, emphasizing disciplined strength aligned with a collective purpose.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Bhīma, the son of Kuntī, defeats the rulers of Sudya and Prasudya along with their allies in battle, and then proceeds to confront/advance upon Magadha.