सिंहोरस्कं गजस्कन्धम् ऋषभाक्षं मनस्विनम् ॥
पाण्डुं दृष्ट्वा नरव्याघ्रं व्यस्मयन्त नरा भुवि ॥
कृतोद्वाहस् ततः पाण्डुर् बलोत्साहसमन्वितः ॥
जिगीषमाणो वसुधां ययौ शत्रून् अनेकशः ॥
पूर्वम् आगस्कृतो गत्वा दशार्णाः समरे जिताः ॥
पाण्डुना नरसिंहेन कौरवाणां यशोभृता ॥
siṃhoraskaṃ gajaskandham ṛṣabhākṣaṃ manasvinam ||
pāṇḍuṃ dṛṣṭvā naravyāghraṃ vyasmayanta narā bhuvi ||
kṛtodvāhas tataḥ pāṇḍur balotsāhasamanvitaḥ ||
jigīṣamāṇo vasudhāṃ yayau śatrūn anekaśaḥ ||
pūrvam āgaskṛto gatvā daśārṇāḥ samare jitāḥ ||
pāṇḍunā narasiṃhena kauravāṇāṃ yaśobhṛtā ||
"Seeing Pandu — the tiger among men, with the chest of a lion, the shoulders of an elephant, the eyes of a bull, wise — people on earth marveled. Having married, Pandu, filled with strength and vigor, desiring to conquer the earth, set out against many enemies. First, marching against the offenders, the Dasharnas were defeated in battle — by Pandu, the lion among men, bearer of the Kauravas' glory."
6c5bfb1cc177 · published Jul 12, 2026, 4:30:26 PM UTC
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Here begins the digvijaya — Pandu's victorious campaign. It is telling that the campaign is described as the subjugation of "offenders" (agaskritah): the righteous king marches not for plunder, but to punish those who have broken their duty and remain unsubmissive, restoring order. In this lies the dharma of the kshatriya: strength exists to defend the law and subdue evil, not to indulge willfulness. It is also telling that Pandu is called "bearer of the Kauravas' glory": his feats serve not personal vanity but the honor of the line. Thus scripture reveals the warrior-king in his dharma — as defender and restorer of order on earth.