Yudhishthira Consults His Court About Performing the Rajasuya
Yudhishthira, restless after hearing tales of legendary kings and their sacrifices, becomes consumed by the desire to perform the rajasuya. He consults his advisers and brothers, who unanimously declare him worthy of the imperial rite. He accepts their encouragement in his heart, but his prudence leads him to seek one final, impartial counsel.
Yudhishthira could find no peace. The words of a visiting sage had settled in his mind, stories of the glory of great rajarshis (royal sages) who had attained pure worlds through their deeds and sacrifices. In particular, he thought of Harishchandra, the king who had performed the rajasuya — the imperial consecration, the sacrifice that declared a king lord of all he surveyed.
Having honored the assembly in his sabha (court) and been honored in return, the protector of dharma began to consult them about the sacrifice. He was a king attentive to his subjects, acting for the welfare of all without distinction, so extraordinary in his energy that no one could be found who hated him — a quality that earned him the name Ajatashatru, "one without enemies."
But this decision was a weight. He assembled his advisers and his brothers and asked them repeatedly about the rajasuya.
His advisers, questioned by the immensely wise and eager king, spoke words deep with meaning. "A consecrated king who wishes to achieve the characteristics of an emperor and attain the traits of Varuna performs this rite. O descendant of the Kurus, you are worthy of the status of an emperor. All your well-wishers think the time has come. The time for the sacrifice is free and depends on kshatriya (warrior) riches. At its completion, the performer is consecrated as a universal emperor. All of us serve you, and you are capable. O great king, do not reflect any more. Set your mind on the rajasuya."
They spoke separately and together — his brothers, his priests like Dhoumya and Dvaipayana, all his well-wishers. Their words were full of dharma, bold, pleasant, and supreme.
Yudhishthira accepted them in his mind. Knowing himself to be capable, he turned the matter over and over. But he was a wise one who considered his powers, his capacity, time, place, income and expenditure. A sacrifice begun only out of personal desire might bring ruin. So even as he felt the pull of their encouragement, he resolved to seek one more opinion — from the one person whose judgment stood above all motives.