Shloka 14
Adhyāya 31: Rājasūya-samāgama — The Gathering of Kings and the Ordering of Hospitality
मारुधं च विनिर्जित्य रम्यग्राममथो बलात् | नाचीनानर्बुकांश्वैव राज्ञश्नेव महाबल:,महाबली पाण्डुनन्दन सहदेवने मारुध तथा रम्यग्रामको बलपूर्वक परास्त करके नाचीन, अर्बुक तथा समस्त वनेचर राजाओंको जीत लिया। तदनन्तर महाबली माद्रीकुमारने राजा वाताधिपको वशमें किया
mārudhaṃ ca vinirjitya ramyagrāmam atho balāt | nācīnān arbukāṃś caiva rājñaś caiva mahābalaḥ ||
ਮਹਾਬਲੀ ਨੇ ਮਾਰੁਧ ਨੂੰ ਜਿੱਤ ਕੇ ਫਿਰ ਰਮ੍ਯਗ੍ਰਾਮ ਨੂੰ ਬਲਪੂਰਵਕ ਪਰਾਜਿਤ ਕੀਤਾ; ਅਤੇ ਨਾਚੀਨਾਂ ਤੇ ਅਰਬੁਕਾਂ ਦੇ ਰਾਜਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਆਪਣੇ ਅਧੀਨ ਕਰ ਲਿਆ।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse reflects a Mahābhārata theme of rājadharma: a ruler (or prince acting for a ruler) is expected to establish political order by bringing rival kings under control. The emphasis on conquest ‘by force’ highlights the kṣatriya mode of enforcing sovereignty, which the epic later evaluates ethically through the broader consequences of power and ambition.
Vaiśampāyana narrates Sahadeva’s progress in a campaign of subjugation: he defeats Mārudha and Ramyagrāma, then overcomes the kings associated with the Nācīnas and Arbukas, extending the Pāṇḍavas’ influence through successive victories.