A true king guides citizens toward God consciousness, established through dharma and confirmed by representatives of divine authority.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.9.49 — June 15, 1973, Māyāpur 730615SB-MAYAPUR [35:54 Minutes] SB-01.09.49_730615SB-MAYAPUR Pradyumna: Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. [leads chanting of verse] [Prabhupāda and devotees repeat] pitrā cānumato rājā vāsudevānumoditaḥ cakāra rājyaṁ dharmeṇa pitṛ-paitāmahaṁ vibhuḥ [SB 1.9.49] [break] pitrā—by his uncle, Dhṛtarāṣṭra; ca-anumataḥ—with his approval; rājā—King Yudhiṣṭhira; vāsudeva-anumoditaḥ—confirmed by Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa; cakāra—executed; rājyam—the kingdom; dharmeṇa—in compliance with the codes of royal principles; pitṛ—father; paitāmaham—forefather; vibhuḥ—as great as. [03:19] Translation: "After this, the great religious king, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, executed the royal power in the kingdom strictly according to the codes and royal principles which were approved by his uncle and confirmed by Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa." Prabhupāda: This is very important verse, the king's duty and how a king is recognized. The first recognition was made by Dhṛtarāṣṭra, his uncle.
Why? Because there was fight between two section of cousin-brothers, the Pāṇḍavas and the Kauravas. So the Kauravas were all killed. The Pāṇḍavas also, except the five brothers, their sons were all killed.
So it is not that by force... There was force, but it was dharma-yuddha. Kṣatriyas, they would claim by strength, by fight, not by high-court judgment. By strength, by bodily strength. So the Pāṇḍavas proved their bodily strength, and Dhṛtarāṣṭra was under the impression that because actually the kingdom belonged to him, but on account of his becoming blind, he could not inherit on the throne.
Defective in the body. A king should be all complete. So not a blind man can be king. That is not possible.
So after the death of his younger brother Pāṇḍu, he thought actually the kingdom belonged to him. Now, after the death of his brother, his sons should inherit. That was the political conspiracy of the Battle of Kurukṣetra. Now everything finished, decided by the battle, Dhṛtarāṣṭra accepted, "Yes, my dear nephews, you can become king now. We have tried our strength, and you have come out victorious.
Therefore I also confirm that you become king." It is said, pitrā cānumataḥ. Not that against the will of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira accepted the throne. No. He took permission: "My dear uncle, now you decide whether we shall become king or you shall remain king." So he said, "No, you become king.
Now your right is confirmed." Then again, it was confirmed by Kṛṣṇa, Vāsudeva. Because a king is representative of God. King is not ordinary person. Just like spiritual master is representative of God, similarly, king is also representative of God.