Shloka 20
Yogakṣema, Purohita, and the Mucukunda–Vaiśravaṇa Dialogue (योगक्षेम–पुरोहित–मुचुकुन्दवैश्रवणसंवादः)
ततो राजा मुचुकुन्द: सो5न्वशासद् वसुन्धराम् । बाहुवीर्यार्जितां सम्यकृक्षत्रधर्ममनुव्रत:,तदनन्तर क्षत्रियधर्मका ठीक-ठीक पालन करनेवाले राजा मुचुकुन्दने अपने बाहुबलसे प्राप्त की हुई इस वसुधाका शासन किया
tato rājā mucukundaḥ so ’nvaśāsad vasundharām | bāhuvīryārjitāṃ samyak kṣatradharmam anuvrataḥ ||
ततो राजा मुचुकुन्दः सोऽन्वशासद् वसुन्धराम्। बाहुवीर्यार्जितां सम्यक् क्षत्रधर्ममनुव्रतः॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Power or conquest becomes legitimate only when followed by righteous administration: a king must rule ‘properly’ (samyak) by faithfully observing kṣatriya-dharma, not merely by possessing territory.
Bhīṣma describes how King Mucukunda, after obtaining the realm through his own valor, proceeds to govern the earth in accordance with the warrior-ruler’s code, emphasizing disciplined kingship after conquest.