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Before he returned to Dwaraka, Krishna had reassured Yudhi that Indraprastha would soon be prospering. In fact, the very first harvests around the rebuilt city exceeded Yudhi’s hopes. The cattle, too, were thriving. Most of the livestock had been a gift from King Drupada. But to these herds had been added those acquired by Arjuna and Bhima during their period of raiding. Yudhi sent word to the original owners offering to return the animals; but in every case he received the reply that it would be an honour if King Yudhi-sthira of the Pandavas kept the cattle as a contribution to his new kingdom.
It would be difficult to imagine a ruler as well loved by his people as Yudhi. It is true that much of the credit for the success of the administration must go to his brothers:
