The Samrajya of Yudhisthira
By Chamupati
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.
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.