Shloka 13
Kṛṣṇa–Arjuna Saṃvāda in Indraprastha: Consolation, Legitimation, and Leave for Dvārakā (आश्वमेधिकपर्व, अध्याय १५)
भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण बोले--शत्रुओंको संताप देनेवाले सव्यसाची अर्जुन! धर्मपुत्र युधिष्ठिरने तुम्हारे बाहुबलका सहारा लेकर इस समूची पृथ्वीपर विजय प्राप्त कर ली ।। असपलन्ां महीं भुद्क्ते धर्मराजो युधिष्ठिर: । भीमसेनानुभावेन यमयोश्व नरोत्तम,नरश्रेष्ठल भीमसेन तथा नकुल-सहदेवके प्रभावसे धर्मराज युधिष्ठिर इस पृथ्वीका निष्कण्टक राज्य भोग रहे हैं
bhagavān śrīkṛṣṇa uvāca—śatrūṇāṃ santāpa-dāyaka savyasācin arjuna! dharma-putro yudhiṣṭhiras tvad-bāhu-bala-śaraṇena samūcīm imāṃ pṛthivīṃ vijitya. niṣkaṇṭakāṃ mahīṃ bhuṅkte dharmarājo yudhiṣṭhiraḥ, bhīmasenānubhāvena nakula-sahadevayoś ca, narottama.
The Blessed Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa said: “O Arjuna, the left-handed archer who scorches the foes! Relying on the strength of your arms, Dharmaputra Yudhiṣṭhira has conquered this entire earth. Now King Yudhiṣṭhira, steadfast in dharma, enjoys an untroubled, thornless sovereignty over the land—supported by the prowess of Bhīmasena and by the power of Nakula and Sahadeva as well, O best of men.”
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Legitimate and stable kingship is portrayed as arising from dharma supported by collective duty: Yudhiṣṭhira’s righteous rule is enabled by the disciplined strength and cooperation of his brothers, showing that ethical governance depends on both moral legitimacy and protective capability.
Kṛṣṇa addresses Arjuna and credits him—along with Bhīma, Nakula, and Sahadeva—for enabling Yudhiṣṭhira’s conquest and present peaceful sovereignty, describing the kingdom as ‘thornless,’ i.e., free from hostile obstacles and internal threats.