Story of Mayūradhvaja

A King of Ratnanagara. After performing seven Aśvamedha yāgas this King started another Aśvamedha in the Narmadā river valley. The task of protecting the sacrificial horse was undertaken by the King’s son Sucitra or Tāmradhvaja. He set out for the conquest of the world with the chief minister Bahudhvaja. On his return, he came across Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha horse at the city of Maṇipur. The heroic Sucitra encountered Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna who were leading the horse. After making them unconscious, he entered the city with the sacrificial horse.

When they recovered their senses, Śrī Kṛṣṇa disguised himself as a Brāhmaṇa and Arjuna as a Brāhmaṇa boy and they went to Mayūradhvaja’s palace. The King welcomed them respectfully. Śrī Kṛṣṇa, in his disguise as Brāhmaṇa told the King that he was coming from Dharmapurī to meet the King’s priest, Kṛṣṇa who was to officiate at the marriage of his (Brāhmaṇa's) son. He added that unfortunately on his way through a forest a lion caught hold of his son. Although he prayed to Lord Narasiṃha, the boy could not be rescued. The lion told him that he would release his son, if the Brāhmaṇa persuaded Mayūradhvaja to offer one half of his body as food to the lion.

On hearing the Brāhmaṇa’s story, Mayūradhvaja agreed to give half of his body to the lion. Just then his queen Kumudvatī appeared before them and said, "I am the left half (Vāmabhāga) of the King. You may take me and offer me as food for the lion." But the Brāhmaṇa replied that the lion wanted the right half of the King’s body.

When the King heard this, he readily agreed to give the right half of his own body. Accordingly, they started cutting his body into two halves. Just then, seeing tears coming down from Mayūradhvaja’s left eye, the Brāhmaṇa said:—"I find that you are in great sorrow; I do not wish to accept a gift which is not given wholeheartedly." Mayūradhvaja explained that his tears were not caused by pain or sorrow. His left side was disappointed in not being able to be of as much service as the right side.

When Śrī Kṛṣṇa heard these words of the King, he resumed his own shape and embraced him and blessed him. After that Mayūradhvaja completed his yāga and started with Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, taking Yudhiṣṭhira’s sacrificial horse with them. (Jaimini; Aśvamedha: 41-46).