Shloka 116
Jarāsandha as Obstacle to the Rājasūya — Kṛṣṇa’s Strategic Genealogical Brief
Sabhā Parva, Adhyāya 13
निकामवर्षा: स्फीताश्न आसञ्जनपदास्तथा । महाराज युधिष्ठिर सबको आत्मीयजनोंकी भाँति अपनाते, भीमसेन सबकी रक्षा करते, सव्यसाची अर्जुन शत्रुओंके संहारमें लगे रहते, बुद्धिमान् सहदेव सबको धर्मका उपदेश दिया करते और नकुल स्वभावसे ही सबके साथ विनयपूर्ण बर्ताव करते थे। इससे उनके राज्यके सभी जनपद कलहशून्य, निर्भय, स्वधर्मपरायण तथा उन्नतिशील थे। वहाँ उनकी इच्छाके अनुसार समयपर वर्षा होती थी
nikāmavarṣāḥ sphītāśnā āsañjanapadās tathā | mahārāja yudhiṣṭhiraḥ sarvān ātmīyajanān iva abhyupādatte, bhīmasenaḥ sarveṣāṃ rakṣāṃ karoti, savyasācī arjunaḥ śatrūṇāṃ saṃhāreṣu yuktaḥ tiṣṭhati, buddhimān sahadevaḥ sarvān dharmam upadiśati, nakulaś ca svabhāvata eva sarvaiḥ saha vinayapūrṇaṃ vyavaharati | ataḥ teṣāṃ rāṣṭrasya sarve janapadāḥ kalahāśūnyāḥ nirbhayāḥ svadharmaparāyaṇāḥ ca unnatiśīlāḥ āsan | tatra teṣāṃ icchānusāreṇa kāle kāle varṣā bhavati sma ||
Vaiśampāyana disse: No reino do rei Yudhiṣṭhira, as chuvas vinham no tempo devido, conforme se desejava; o povo alimentava-se bem, e as regiões do interior eram prósperas e bem estabelecidas. Yudhiṣṭhira acolhia a todos como se fossem seus próprios parentes; Bhīmasena protegia a todos; Arjuna, o arqueiro hábil com ambas as mãos, mantinha-se atento à destruição dos inimigos; o sábio Sahadeva instruía continuamente o povo no dharma; e Nakula, por natureza, tratava a todos com cortês humildade. Assim, todos os distritos do reino estavam livres de contendas, sem temor, devotados aos seus deveres e avançando de modo constante.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ethical model of rulership: when leaders embody dharma—treating subjects as family, ensuring protection, restraining threats, teaching right conduct, and practicing humility—society becomes secure, harmonious, and prosperous, symbolized by timely rains and abundant food.
Vaiśampāyana describes the condition of Yudhiṣṭhira’s kingdom under the Pāṇḍavas’ complementary roles: Yudhiṣṭhira’s inclusive care, Bhīma’s protection, Arjuna’s vigilance against enemies, Sahadeva’s dharma-instruction, and Nakula’s courteous conduct, resulting in peaceful, fearless, flourishing districts with seasonal rainfall.