Arjuna’s Northern Conquests: Kimpuruṣa-lands, Hāṭaka, Mānasasaras, and the Harivarṣa Boundary
तत्र कृत्यमहं मनन््ये कोशस्य परिवर्धनम् | करमाहारयिष्यामि राज्ञ: सर्वान् नृपोत्तम
tatra kṛtyam ahaṃ manye kośasya parivardhanam | karam āhārayiṣyāmi rājñaḥ sarvān nṛpottama ||
Arjuna disse: Neste assunto, considero necessário aumentar o tesouro real. Ó melhor dos reis, pretendo exigir tributo—tendo trazido todos os governantes à autoridade—para que os recursos do reino se fortaleçam.
अर्जुन उवाच
The verse highlights a kingly priority within rājadharma: maintaining and increasing the treasury to sustain governance. It frames revenue (kara/tribute) as a practical duty of rule, tied to political subordination of other rulers rather than private gain.
Arjuna states his policy/intention: he deems it necessary to expand the treasury and proposes collecting tribute from all kings—implying conquest or bringing them under suzerainty—addressing a superior ruler as “best of kings.”