Shloka 20
जयद्रथविमोचन–पलायनवृत्तान्तः
Recovery of Draupadī and Jayadratha’s flight
भद्रान् रोहितकांश्वैव आग्रेयान् मालवानपि । गणान् सर्वान् विनिर्जित्य नीतिकृत् प्रहसन्निव
bhadrān rohitakāṁś caiva āgreyān mālavān api | gaṇān sarvān vinirjitya nītikṛt prahasann iva ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: Tendo subjugado todos aqueles grupos—os Bhadrāns, os Rohitakas, os Āgreyas e os Mālavas—ele, artífice da política e da ordem, parecia quase sorrir, como se a vitória e o governo fossem para ele questão de estratégia disciplinada, e não de mera força.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights nīti—disciplined governance and strategic order—as the ethical frame for power: conquest is portrayed not as uncontrolled violence but as controlled subduing that enables rule and stability.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that a ruler/leader has defeated multiple regional groups (Bhadras, Rohitakas, Āgreyas, Mālavas) and, having brought all their bands under control, appears calmly confident—almost smiling—after establishing dominance.