Shloka 15
शकुनेः पुत्रेण सह आश्वमेधाश्वविषयः संघर्षः — Arjuna’s restrained engagement with Śakuni’s son during the horse-escort
अन्त:पुराणां राज्ञां च नानादेशसमीयुषाम् । कारयामास थधर्मात्मा तत्र तत्र यथाविधि,वहाँ सुवर्णमय विचित्र खम्भे और बड़े-बड़े तोरण (फाटक) बने हुए थे। धर्मात्मा भीमने यज्ञमण्डपके सभी स्थानोंमें शुद्ध सुवर्णका उपयोग किया था। उन्होंने अन्तःपुरकी स्त्रियों, विभिन्न देशोंसे आये हुए राजाओं, तथा नाना स्थानोंसे पधारे हुए ब्राह्मणोंके रहनेके लिये भी अनेकानेक उत्तम भवन बनवाये। उन सबका निर्माण कुन्तीकुमार भीमने शिल्पशास्त्रकी विधिके अनुसार कराया था
antaḥpurāṇāṁ rājñāṁ ca nānādeśasamīyuṣām | kārayāmāsa sa dharmātmā tatra tatra yathāvidhi ||
Vaiśampāyana said: That righteous one had suitable residences constructed, in due form and in their proper places, for the royal women of the inner apartments and for the kings who had arrived from many lands.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma in governance: a righteous leader ensures orderly arrangements and proper hospitality for all guests—especially vulnerable or socially protected groups like the royal women—doing everything yathāvidhi, i.e., according to prescribed norms rather than whim.
During the preparations for the great rite (contextually the Aśvamedha), the righteous organizer (understood here as Bhīma in the surrounding passage) commissions the building of appropriate lodgings and facilities for the inner-palace women and for visiting kings who have arrived from many regions.