Chapter 1 - Summary of Conquest
1.
Partha rode the Gandiva bow that no one could fade.
Dhananjaya rolled a gold chariot that sent shivers from Hanuman’s ice-cold shade.
Savyasachi’s ride was stocked with inexhaustible quivers to supply any demand.
Arjuna sought Yudhishthira’s counsel on how best to play his made hand.
2-4.
Arjuna said,
‘I’ve won weapons, valor and fame.
I’ve turned armed rage into a political game.
What is any of that worth?
Glory does not pay a soldier's wage.
Through fame one only gains in spoken word.
We’ve got four aces to call down the Kings of this earth.
Now is the time to change our fortunes by the sword.
You may ask, what places will I start?
The wise say Kubera is the Lord of treasure.
So the North will be my part.
When the stars align I’ll set course.
I’ll conquer every land from mountain to ocean sand.
I’ll go until I find wealth’s heavenly source.
There by my hand Kubera will be forced to pay whatever tribute you command.’
5.
Having heard Dhananjaya speak, Dharmaraja Yudhishthira went deep in his mind.
With affection in his voice the King looked Arjuna in the eye and spoke in kind.
6-7.
‘O’ best of the Bharatas!
Let the brahman praise you before you go is all I ask.
Peace unto you after you achieve this difficult task.
And may I remind you to say goodbye to your children and the friends you leave behind.
To Partha may the Gods ration victory in divine measure!
May your karma fill our treasury.
Go forth with trained soldiers and conquest as you pleasure.’
8.
Arjuna’s chariot roared like wheels of fire.
So too the twins and Bhimasena, in fierce form like Yama, departed in whirls of ire.
9.
All four Pandavas took Dharmaraja’s blessed leave.
The Pandavas rode from Khandavaprastha toward the north, south, west and east with heart on their sleeve.
Each cardinal direction on their slate.
10.
Bhimasena brought the beasts of the east to their knees.
Sahadeva went south to tame tribals and coastie elites.
Nakul went west to best the wild mleccha barbarians, cow herders and forest kings who dwelt in trees.
Arjuna conquered outlaw bands and mountain hard kings on the way to Kubera’s northern gate.
11.
Dharmaraja Yudhishthira sat in the center under a mounting plate.
News of each Pandavas fate came on carts and in bullock packs on the backs of beasts hauled through each cardinal gate.
First a trickle ticked then in a flash that trickle turned to a flood of flow.
Wealth of every flavor poured in from each beaten state blow by blow.
Surrounded by friends, well-wishers in Khandavaprastha, endowed by Lakshmi’s dole the Dharma King shined on like a summer glow.
Notes
[1] Dhananjaya, Savyasachi and Partha are all names for Arjuna. The Gandiva bow is a divine weapon that Arjuna obtained from Varuna after burning the Khandava forest to rid it of rakshasas and serpents. Similarly, Arjuna has a boon that his quivers never run out of arrows. This story is told in another book.
A chariot standard is a flag that flies overhead. Every warrior had an icon on their standard to mark who they were. Arjuna’s standard bore the mark of Hanuman. To cut down an enemy’s standard by slicing the pole with an arrow is a sign of dominance and a common way to defeat a warrior without killing them.
[2] Kubera is the God of treasure. He is to the north. After beating all the kings, it is said Arjuna defeats coastal people. Looking at a map, maybe Arjuna went as far north as the water bodies in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan? Or maybe he went north and curled northwest around the mountains through Afghanistan to the coast?
[7] Karma is often translated as action. Karma in this context is action that creates waves of cause and effect in this life or the next, such as conquering all the kings in a northward direction or die trying.
[8] Yama is the God of Death. Yama wields a club. Bhima’s favorite weapon is the club, so he often gets this comparison. Yama is to the south.
[10] The eastward direction for Bhima was the direction populated by the most established kings. The ‘beasts of the east’ being the lions, elephants and tigers among men of the established kings. Nakula, by contrast, seems to have had the wildest share in the west - many tribals and mlecchas - people that did not speak Sanskrit.
This chapter is a summary.
The full account of the peoples and kings each Pandava conquered follows in the next chapters of the book. This map has a list as well.
Chapter 2 -8 [ABRIDGED]
Digvijaya hit list (in order of conquest)
North (Arjuna)
King of Kulindas
Anartas
Kalakutas
King Sumandala
Island of Shakala
King Prativindhya
King Bhagadatta of Pragjyotisha
Kiratas
Chins
Mountain Kings
King Brihanta of Uluka
Semabindu
Modapura
Vamadeva
Sudamana
Susankula
Ulukas
King Vishvagashva of Puru
Robber tribes of mountains
Seven tribes of Utsavasanketa
Kashmira
King Lohita and ten minor chiefs
Trigartas
Kokandadas
King Rochamana of Urga
City of Singhapura
Countries Sumba and Sumala
Vaihikas
Daradas
Kambojas
Robber tribes
Lokas
Rishikas
King Drumaputra of the Kimpurushas
Guhyakas of Hataka
South (Sahadeva)
Shurasenas
King Matsya
King Vinda
King Anuvinda
King Bhishmaka of Bhojakata
King of Kosala
King Venatatha
Kantarakas
Kings of eastern Kosalas
Natakeyas
Herambakas
Marudhas
Munjagrama
Kings of Nachinas
Kings of Arbukas
King Vatadhipa
King of Pandya
Cavs of Kishkindya
(Monkey) King Mainda
(Monkey) King Dvivida
King Nila of Mahishmati
King Paurava
Akriti, preceptor of Kaushika
King of Shurashtra
King Rukmin of Bhishmaka of Bhojakata
Shuparaka
Talakata
Dandaka
Nishadas
Karnapravanas
Cole mountains
Shurabhipattna
Copper Island
Ramaka Mountain
King Timingila
Keralas
Sanjayanti city
Pakhandas
Karahatakas
Pandyas
Dravidas
Udrakeralas
Andhras
Talavanas
Kalinga
Ushtrakarnikas
City of Atavi
Yavanas
Vibhisana
East (Bhima)
Panchalas
Gandakas
Videhas
King Sudharma of Dasarnas
King Rochaman of Ashvamedha
City of Pulindas
King Sumitra and Sukumara
King Shishupala of Chedi
King Shrenimana of Kumura
King Vrihadvala of Koshala
King Dirghayajna of Ayodya
Gopalakaksha
Northern Kosalas
King of Malla
Foothills of the Himalayas
Bhallata
Shuktimanta mountains
King Subahu of Kashi
King Kratha of Suparshva
Matsyas and Malavas
Pashubhumi
Madadhara and Mahidhara
Somadheyas
Vatsabhumi
King of the Bhargas
King of the Nishadas
Maniman
Southern Mallas
Mountain Bhogavanta
Sharmakas
Varmakas
King Janaka of Videha
Shakas
Barbarians
Sevin kings of the Kiratas
Suhamas
Prasuhmas
Danda
Dandadhara
Girivraja
King Jarasandha
King Karna of Anga
King Madagiri
King Pundra
King Mahaujasa in Kaushikacha
King of Vanga
King Chandrasena of Samudarasena
King of Tamralipta
King of Karvata
King of Suhamas
King of Mlecchas
West (Nakula)
King Mattamayurakas of Rohitaka
Shairishaka
Mahottha
Akrosha
Dasharnas
Trigartas
Ambashthas
Malavas
Five tribes of Karpatavas
Madhyamikas
Vatadhanas
Utsavasanketas
Gramaniyas
Shudras
Abhiras
Fishing tribes
Amara
Uttarajyotisha
Divyakata
Dvaraala
Ramathas
Harahunas
King Shalyas of Madras
Mlecchas
Kiratas
Pahlavas
Yavanas (Greeks)
Shakas
Notes
[1] Bhagadatta and Arjuna fight for 8 days. After much praise Bhagadatta agrees to pay. Bhagadatta fights for the Kauravas during the war. He has an epic run on the back of a mad elephant before going down.
[2] Many conquests were peaceful.
[3] Bhima conquers Karna with little fanfare.
[4] Shalya gives much praise.
[5] Yavanas are Greeks.
[6] Palavas are Persians.
[7] Chins are the Nepal or Chinese (?)
[8] Mlecchas are non-Sanskrit speaking persons.