Shloka 4
Yogakṣema, Purohita, and the Mucukunda–Vaiśravaṇa Dialogue (योगक्षेम–पुरोहित–मुचुकुन्दवैश्रवणसंवादः)
मुचुकुन्दो विजित्येमां पृथिवी पृथिवीपति: । जिज्ञासमान: स्वबलमभ्ययादलकाधिपम्,कहते हैं, पृथ्वीपति राजा मुचुकुन्दने इस पृथ्वीको जीतकर अपने बलकी परीक्षा लेनेके लिये अलकापति कुबेरपर चढ़ाई की
Mucukundo vijityemāṃ pṛthivīṃ pṛthivīpatiḥ | jijñāsamānaḥ svabalam abhyayād Alakādhipam ||
毗湿摩说道：“牟楚昆达王征服大地之后，身为一方之主，欲试自身武力之所至；为求此试炼，遂进军攻向阿罗迦之主——俱毗罗。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse hints at the ethical risk that follows success: conquest can lead to pride and the desire to prove oneself against higher and higher opponents. It sets up a reflection on restraint and right use of power—central concerns of the Śānti Parva’s dharma discourse.
Bhishma recounts that King Muchukunda, after subduing the earth, sought to gauge his own might and therefore advanced against Alakā’s lord, Kubera.