that king of kings, that bull amongst the Kurus, inclined his mind towards
making preparations for the Rajasuya. That prince of wonderful energy and
prowess, however, reflecting upon virtue and righteousness, again set his
heart to find out what would be for the good of all his people. For
Yudhishthira, that foremost of all virtuous men, always kind unto his
subjects, worked for the good of all without making any distinctions.
Indeed, shaking off both anger and arrogance, Yudhishthira always said,--
'Give unto each what is due to each,'--and the only sounds that he could
hear were,--'Blessed be Dharma! Blessed be Dharma!' Yudhishthira conducting
himself thus and giving paternal assurance to everybody, there was none in
the kingdom who entertained any hostile feelings towards him. He therefore
came to be called Ajatasatru (one with no enemy at all). The king
cherished every one as belonging to his family, and Bhima ruled over all
justly. Arjuna, used to employing both his hands with equal skill,
protected the people from (external) enemies. And the wise Sahadeva
administered justice impartially. And Nakula behaved towards all with
humility that was natural to him. Owing to all this, the kingdom became
free from disputes and fear of every kind. And all the people became
attentive to their respective occupations. The rain became so abundant as
to leave no room for desiring more; and the kingdom grew in prosperity.
And in consequence of the virtues of the king, money-lenders, the articles
required for sacrifices, cattle-rearing, tillage, and traders, all and
everything grew in prosperity. Indeed, during the reign of Yudhishthira
who was ever devoted to truth, there was no extortion, no stringent
realisation of arrears of rent, no fear of disease, of fire, or of death
by poisoning and incantations, in the kingdom. It was never heard at that
time that thieves or cheats or royal favourites ever behaved wrongfully
towards the king or towards one another amongst themselves. Kings
conquered on the six occasions (of war, treaty, &c) were wont to wait upon
him in order to do good unto the monarch and worship him ever, while the