This episode from the Mahabharata [Maha:2.25-2.31] describes the Pandavas’ campaign of conquest before Yudhishtra’s Rajasuya Yagna, where each brother set out in different directions to establish dominion over various kingdoms. This conquest, termed Digvijaya, was necessary to consolidate power and assert Yudhishtra’s right to perform the grand royal sacrifice.
Arjuna’s Northern Campaign:
Arjuna, the son of Indra, traveled northward. One of his notable conquests was over Bhagadatta, the ruler of Pragjyotisha. Bhagadatta is also known for his later involvement in the Kurukshetra War, where he sided with the Kauravas, riding his famed war elephant. Arjuna also subdued several hill tribes, including the Trigartas and the Kambojas, prominent in Indian mythological warfare, known for their fierce cavalry and warrior ethos. When he ventured beyond the Himalayas, divine beings advised him to turn back, for the northern regions were considered inaccessible to mortals. The Himalayas are significant in Hindu mythology as the abode of deities like Shiva, linking Arjuna’s northern conquests to the divine realms.
Bheema’s Eastern Campaign:
Bheema marched eastward, defeating several kings, including Drupada of Panchala (his future father-in-law) and Shishupala of Chedi. The Mahabharata later narrates that Shishupala was Krishna’s mortal enemy, eventually slain by him during Yudhishtra’s Rajasuya Yagna. Bheema’s victories were decisive, subduing rulers like Srenimat of Kumara and Subahu of Kashi. His journey included the conquest of the Kingdom of Magadha, where Sahadeva, the ruler and son of Jarasandha, was defeated. Jarasandha was one of the most formidable adversaries in the Mahabharata, whose defeat by Krishna, Bheema, and Arjuna paved the way for Yudhishtra’s rise.
Sahadeva’s Southern Campaign:
Sahadeva, the youngest Pandava, headed south. He defeated Dantavakra, an ally of Shishupala, and also encountered Vibhishana, the ruler of Lanka (post-Ravana’s rule in the Ramayana). This linkage between the Mahabharata and Ramayana highlights the interconnection of epic narratives. Sahadeva’s encounter with King Nila of Mahishmati is notable because Nila had Agni (the fire god) as his son-in-law, which posed a unique challenge. This episode ties into the broader mythology of Agni, who also aided Arjuna in consuming the Khandava forest, a major prelude to the Pandavas’ imperial aspirations.
Nakula’s Western Campaign:
Nakula, the son of Madri, marched west, conquering Mlechchas (foreign tribes) and subduing regions like Madra and Sakala, the territory of Salya, his maternal uncle. This campaign of Nakula’s not only expanded Yudhishtra’s kingdom but also linked the Pandavas to their maternal lineage, ensuring alliances through diplomacy as much as warfare. Nakula’s encounter with Yavanas and Sakas also hints at the contact between ancient India and the western tribes, often referred to as Greeks or Scythians in later classical texts.
Connection to Indian Mythology:
The Pandavas’ campaign reflects their deep connection with the celestial realms. Arjuna’s northern expedition, halted by divine beings, indicates the sacred nature of the Himalayas. Sahadeva’s plea to Agni shows the presence of divine intervention in mortal conflicts. The Rajasuya Yagna, which all these conquests were meant to enable, was a Vedic ritual requiring all-encompassing sovereignty, thus connecting Yudhishtra’s mortal rule to cosmic order (Dharma). These victories also set the stage for later conflicts, such as the Kurukshetra War, where many of these defeated kings either align with or against the Pandavas, particularly Bhagadatta, Shishupala, and the Trigartas.
The narrative of these campaigns is crucial in establishing Yudhishtra’s legitimacy as an emperor, positioning the Pandavas at the center of the ancient world’s power dynamics, and is heavily intertwined with mythological elements such as divine intervention, the interplay of fate, and the Vedic duty of kingship.