Shloka 17
सहदेव-दक्षिण-दिग्विजयः — Sahadeva’s Southern Conquest and the Māhiṣmatī–Agni Encounter
एवं स पुरुषव्यात्रो विजित्य दिशमुत्तराम् । संग्रामान् सुबहून् कृत्वा क्षत्रियैर्दस्युभिस्तथा
evaṃ sa puruṣavyāghro vijitya diśam uttarām | saṃgrāmān subahūn kṛtvā kṣatriyair dasyubhis tathā ||
Thế rồi Arjuna—mãnh hổ giữa loài người—chinh phục phương Bắc, trải qua vô số trận chiến, giao tranh với các vua kṣatriya và cả những bọn cướp bóc lang thang.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a kṣatriya ideal of establishing order: a righteous ruler’s champion must confront both rival kings and lawless marauders to secure the realm and uphold stable governance. It implicitly contrasts legitimate sovereignty with predation (dasyu), presenting warfare as a means to restore political and social order when aligned with royal duty.
Vaiśampāyana reports that Arjuna has completed a northern campaign, winning control of the northern quarter after fighting many battles against kṣatriya rulers and bandit groups. This forms part of the broader digvijaya/tribute-gathering efforts connected with consolidating the Pāṇḍavas’ power.