The Rajasuya Sacrifice
“When the greatest honor is given, one man's pride becomes his doom.”
Contains: violence, death
Story Summary
After conquering all directions and eliminating Jarasandha, Yudhishthira is ready to perform the grand Rajasuya sacrifice—the ultimate ceremony that will establish him as emperor. Kings from across the land gather at Indraprastha, their tributes collected, their allegiances secured. But when the time comes to honor the most distinguished guest, a decision must be made. Bhishma declares that Krishna should receive the first honor, recognizing him as the greatest being present. This sparks outrage from Shishupala, the king of Chedi and Krishna's cousin, who cannot accept that a cowherd—not even a king—should be honored above all rulers. As Shishupala's insults mount, Krishna remains calm, honoring an ancient promise to pardon a hundred offenses. But when the hundred and first insult crosses his lips, Krishna finally acts, wielding the divine Sudarshan Chakra to end the defiance. The ceremony continues, Yudhishthira is crowned emperor, and the Pandavas reach their absolute peak—but Duryodhana watches, his jealousy consuming him, knowing he must find a way to bring them down.