समयं वाजिमेधस्य विदित्वा पुरुषर्षभ: । यथोक्तो धर्मपुत्रेण प्रव्रजन् स्वपुरी प्रति,उनके द्वारका जाते समय धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिने जैसी बात कही थी, उसके अनुसार अश्वमेध यज्ञका समय निकट जानकर पुरुषोत्तम श्रीकृष्ण पहले ही उपस्थित हो गये
samayaṁ vājimedhasya viditvā puruṣarṣabhaḥ | yathokto dharmaputreṇa pravrajan svapurīṁ prati ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Knowing that the time for the Aśvamedha sacrifice had arrived, the best of men set out toward his own city, acting in accordance with what Dharmaputra (Yudhiṣṭhira) had previously instructed.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
The verse highlights dharma as reliability and timely action: a noble person honors prior commitments (yathoktaḥ) and supports righteous public rites by arriving at the proper time (samayaṁ), reinforcing ethical leadership after conflict.
As preparations for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha approach, Kṛṣṇa, having understood the appointed time, proceeds toward his own city in accordance with Yudhiṣṭhira’s earlier words—implying his prompt presence and support for the sacrifice.