Yudhishthira’s Ambition and Krishna’s Strategic Mastery

Initially, the Pandavas and Kauravas, both claiming the throne of Hastinapura, had agreed to split the kingdom to avoid conflict. The Pandavas received a barren land called Khandavaprastha. With the help of Lord Krishna and the architect Maya, they transformed it into a magnificent city named Indraprastha. Yudhishthira was then established as its king, marking the beginning of his reign.

Once, Devarshi Narada returned from Swarga and met King Yudhishthira at Indraprastha. He conveyed a message from Yudhishthira's late father, advising him to perform the Rajasuya Yajna. The Rajasuya Yajna is a Vedic ritual performed by a king to establish supreme sovereignty over all other kings. For this yajna, the king invites other kings to show their loyalty. They can either accept him as emperor or choose to fight him.Yudhishtira consulted the subject with his advisers and ministers, who all supported him in unison, encouraging him to earn this glory.

Thereafter, Yudhishthira  sought Lord Krishna’s counsel on the matter. Yudhishthira expressed, 'O Krishna, I wish to perform the Rajasuya Yajna. However, it cannot be accomplished merely by desire. Only you know the means to complete this yajna.My well-wishers are urging me to undertake this yajna, but the final decision rests upon your advice. Some people, due to their affection for me, do not reveal my flaws or shortcomings. Others, out of self-interest, only say what would please me. Some people consider what benefits them personally as beneficial and desirable for me as well. Thus, various people often express different views based on their motives. However, you are above all such causes, untouched by desire and anger, and established in your true self. Therefore, please tell me what would be truly beneficial and appropriate for me.'

In response, Lord Shri Krishna described the mighty Jarasandha, his allies and supporters such as Shishupala, Dantavakra, Karna, Meghavahana, Bhagadatta, Paundraka, Bhishmaka, and the kings and warriors on his own side.

'O Yudhishthira, You are always surrounded by emperors. Thus,You should establish yourself as the sovereign ruler among the Kshatriya kings. However, my opinion is that as long as the mighty Jarasandha lives, you cannot complete the Rajasuya Yajna. He has conquered all the kings and holds them captive in Girivraja, just as a lion traps mighty elephants in a cave on a great mountain. O enemy subduer! King Jarasandha gained unique powers by worshiping Lord Shiva with intense penance, which is why all other kings were defeated by him.

'He wishes to perform a dreadful Tamasic yajna by sacrificing these kings. He has almost fulfilled his vow, as he has captured many kings, defeated them one by one in battle, and imprisoned them in his capital, gathering a vast number of kings. At that time, even we fled from Mathura to Dwarka to escape his power, and we have lived there ever since. O King! If you wish to successfully complete this yajna, you must attempt to free these captive kings and slay Jarasandha.

'Without doing so, the Rajasuya Yajna cannot be fully accomplished. Consider a plan to kill Jarasandha. Once he is defeated, complete victory will be yours. This is my advice, but you should act as you see fit. In this situation, make a clear decision based on reason and let me know your plan.'

Krishna the strategist

Krishna’s role as a strategist stands out clearly when compared to the advice from others. While many of Yudhishthira’s allies encouraged him to perform the Rajasuya Yajna, their advice was more supportive than strategic. They agreed he deserved the glory but did not consider the practical challenges deeply. They wanted him to succeed but did not offer a plan to defeat Jarasandha, who was a serious obstacle.

Krishna, however, looked beyond mere encouragement. He carefully analyzed the situation and recognized that Jarasandha was the main barrier to Yudhishthira’s success. Instead of just supporting the idea of the yajna, Krishna advised a clear plan to defeat Jarasandha first. He understood that without freeing the captive kings and removing Jarasandha’s threat, Yudhishthira’s goal could not be achieved.

Krishna’s advice was also realistic and based on his knowledge of Jarasandha’s strengths and weaknesses. He knew that facing Jarasandha would require more than just courage; it would need a calculated approach. Thus, Krishna’s role as a strategist is unique because he provided Yudhishthira with a practical, step-by-step plan that balanced both vision and reality. This made Krishna’s advice different and more valuable than the general support given by others.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi