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The Samrajya of Yudhisthira

By Chamupati

Vol. 7 · No. 3September - 1931pp. 523–530English

Summary

The author explores the concept of samrājya (imperial sovereignty) through the epic narrative of Yudhiṣṭhira’s coronation after the Kurukshetra war. By analysing passages from the Mahābhārata and Puranic literature, the article reconstructs the process by which Yudhiṣṭhira consolidated control over a mandala of states stretching from Kulinda and Ānarta to Vidarbha and Pundra. It argues that the Rājāsūya sacrifice symbolised the transformation of a king into a universal ruler, sanctioned by ritual and accepted by subordinate chiefs. The piece examines lists of conquered or allied kingdoms, the role of regional kings like Vasudeva of Pundra, Bhīsmaka of Vidarbha and others, and the mechanisms through which dharma was upheld in the new order. The author suggests that Yudhiṣṭhira’s empire embodied a moral ideal: power exercised in consultation with assemblies and sages and directed toward maintaining cosmic order.

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Conclusion

By situating Yudhiṣṭhira’s sovereignty within Vedic rituals and political theory, the article reveals how epic narratives articulated models of righteous imperialism. It underscores that samrājya was conceived not merely as territorial expansion but as a dharma‑based hegemony requiring consent and ethical governance.

Key passages

Chosen by AI from the article's text. Each one is checked word for word against the text before it is shown.

  • “A number of states that were already discon-tented found an opportunity of forming themselves into a coalition against the Pandavas, The exile of thirteen years which the latter underwent, followed by the Kurukgetra War, was a consequence of that deeplaid conspiracy.”
  • “The states other than monarchical could only be the members of the Samrajya, This may explain in part why ડા Krspa whose consummate statesmanship lay virtually at the root of शाह whole imperial edifice, served as a minister to Yudhisthira.”

Works cited in this article

  1. Sabkia Parva, 26, 16
  2. 1did, 31, 63
  3. ૪પાતરચા; પ વાળે પરમાથ सबता ળા;

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Article order

In this issue

Vol. 7 · No. 3
435–457Finger-posts of Bengal HistoryBijoy Nath Sarkar458–463The Queen’s Donation EdictSailendra Nath Mitra464–474Studies in the KautiliyaNarendra Nath Law475–480The Economic Conditions of Bengal during the Years 1793 - 1858Gottlieb L. Schanzlin481–498The Frontier Problem of the MughalsH. N. Sinha499–514Usnisa-siraskata in early Buddha images of IndiaJitendra Nath Banerjee515–522Two Tantri StoriesA. Venkatasubbiah523–530The Samrajya of YudhisthiraChamupatiCurrent article530–536Gopala Deva I of BengalMuhammad Shahidullah537–627The Problem of the MahanatakaSushil Kumar De628–628VyosaKshitish Chandra Chatterjee629–629Date of the MudraraksasaJarl Charpentier629–632Surastra under the MauryasBankim Ch. Ray Chaudhuri632–632A Note on Surcsvaracarya and Mandana MisraAmar Nath Roy633–634Notes on the Nagarjunikonda Inscriptions635–643MADHUSHEDANA�S TEXT (Jivinanda's Ed,)Sushil Kumar De644–650Kulasekhara Alvar and his date651–653Notes On The Nagarjunikosda Inscriptions - IV - PasidakinamNalinaksha Dutt654–656The “Webbed Fingers” of BuddhaJitendra Nath Banerjee657Notes on Asoka RescriptsSailendra Nath Mitra658–663Some Notes on Ownership of the Soil in Ancient IndiaU. N. Ghoshal664Nalanda Stone Inscription of YasovarmadevaRamesh Chandra Majumdar665–668Sailodbhava Rulers of KongadaVinayak Misra669–673The hair and the usnisa on the head of the Buddhas and the JinasRamaprasad Chanda674–681Select Contents of Orlental Journals

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