Adhyāya 31: Rājasūya-samāgama — The Gathering of Kings and the Ordering of Hospitality
पुलिन्दांश्व॒ रणे जित्वा ययौ दक्षिणत: पुर: । युयुधे पाण्ड्यराजेन दिवसं नकुलानुज:
Pulindāṁś ca raṇe jitvā yayau dakṣiṇataḥ puraḥ | yuyudhe Pāṇḍyarājena divasaṁ Nakulānujaḥ ||
ପୁଲିନ୍ଦମାନଙ୍କୁ ରଣରେ ଜିତି ନକୁଳଙ୍କ ଅନୁଜ ସହଦେବ ଦକ୍ଷିଣ ଦିଗକୁ ଆହୁରି ଅଗ୍ରସର ହେଲେ। ତାପରେ ସେ ପାଣ୍ଡ୍ୟରାଜଙ୍କ ସହ ଗୋଟିଏ ଦିନ ଯୁଦ୍ଧ କଲେ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse reflects kṣatriya-dharma in the context of a royal campaign: a prince advances methodically, subduing opponents to establish political order and sovereignty. The ethical frame is not personal enmity but the duty-bound conduct of warfare and governance within a larger statecraft objective.
Sahadeva, after defeating the Pulindas, continues southward and then engages the Pāṇḍya king in battle for one full day, marking another stage in his southern expedition described in the Sabha Parva.