Shloka 1
Rājasūya-sambhāra: Prosperity under Rājadharma and the Initiation of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Sacrifice
ऑपन-माज बक। अऑपफि-छऋाज-ज त्रिशो&्थ्याय: भीमका पूर्व दिशाके अनेक देशों तथा राजाओंको जीतकर भारी धन-सम्पत्तिके साथ इन्द्रप्रस्थमें लौटना वैशम्पायन उवाच ततः कुमारविषये श्रेणिमन्तमथाजयत् । कोसलाधिपतिं चैव बृहद्धलमरिंदम:
vaiśampāyana uvāca | tataḥ kumāraviṣaye śreṇimantam athājayat | kosalādhipatiṃ caiva bṛhaddhalam arindamaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: Depois disso, Bhīmasena, subjugador de inimigos, conquistou Śreṇimān, rei da região de Kumāra, e também Bṛhaddhala, senhor de Kośala. A narrativa ressalta a expansão da soberania dos Pāṇḍava por meio de conquista disciplinada e da acumulação de recursos a serviço do projeto imperial de Yudhiṣṭhira, e não por ganho privado.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames conquest as a function of righteous kingship: Bhīma’s victories are presented as disciplined subjugation of rival rulers to consolidate a lawful imperial order for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya, emphasizing duty and statecraft over personal aggression.
During the Pandavas’ campaign of conquest (digvijaya) in preparation for the Rājasūya, Bhīmasena defeats Śreṇimān of the Kumāra region and Bṛhaddhala, the king of Kośala, extending Indraprastha’s influence.