Shloka 17
जयद्रथविमोचन–पलायनवृत्तान्तः
Recovery of Draupadī and Jayadratha’s flight
आव्न्त्यांश्व॒ वशे कृत्वा साम्ना च भरतर्षभ । वृष्णिभि: सह संगम्य पश्चिमामपि निर्जयत्,भरतश्रेष्ठ] तदनन्तर उसने सामनीतिके द्वारा अवन्तीदेशके राजाओंको वशमें करके वृष्णिवंशी यादवोंसे हिल-मिलकर पश्चिम दिशापर भी विजय प्राप्त की
Āvantyān sva-vaśe kṛtvā sāmnā ca bharatarṣabha | Vṛṣṇibhiḥ saha saṅgamya paścimām api nirjayat ||
Sinabi ni Vaiśampāyana: “O toro sa angkan ng Bharata, matapos mapasailalim ang mga pinuno ng Avanti sa pamamagitan ng pakikipagkasundo at maingat na diplomasya, at makipag-alyansa sa mga Yādava ng angkang Vṛṣṇi, sinupil din niya ang kanlurang dako.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights nīti (statecraft) aligned with dharma: effective rule need not rely solely on force; conciliation and alliance-building (sāmna and saṅgama) can achieve political aims with less harm, reflecting a preference for measured, ethically mindful governance.
The narrator reports a campaign sequence: first, the Avanti rulers are brought under control through diplomatic conciliation; next, an alliance is formed with the Vṛṣṇi Yādavas; then, supported by this association, the protagonist extends victory to the western regions as well.