In the midst of the grand Rajasuya sacrifice, all the assembled kings, sages, gods, and men rejoiced at the prosperity of Ajātaśatru, Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma. The only exception was Duryodhana, the sinful embodiment of Kali among the Kurus, who could not bear the sight of the Pandava’s great fortune. His heart was tormented by envy, unable to tolerate the glory he witnessed. It is said that whoever recites these deeds of Vishnu—including the slaying of Śiśupāla, the liberation of the king, and the magnificent sacrifice—will be freed from all sins. Thus concludes the chapter on the slaying of Śiśupāla, in the sacred Śrīmad Bhāgavata Mahāpurāṇa. King Parikshit, eager to learn more, addressed the brāhmaṇa: “O wise one, all the assembled kings, gods, and men rejoiced at the Rajasuya sacrifice, except for Duryodhana. We have heard this—please explain the reason.” Śrī Bādarāyaṇi replied: At your great ancestor’s Rajasuya, his relatives, bound by affection, were engaged in various services. Bhīma managed the kitchen, Suyodhana (Duryodhana) oversaw the treasury, Sahadeva handled the worship, and Nakula procured all the necessary materials. Arjuna attended to the elders, Krishna washed the feet of the guests, Drupada’s daughter, Draupadi, served the food, and noble Karṇa distributed gifts. Yuyudhāna, Vikarṇa, Hārdikya, Vidura, the sons of Bāhlīka, Bhūri, and the Santardanas—all took up assigned duties, each acting with the desire to please the king. Once the officiating priests, assistants, and best of friends had been honored with gifts, sweet words, and proper hospitality, and after the Lord of the Sātvatas, Krishna, had entered the sacrificial arena following the slaying of Śiśupāla, the concluding bath in the celestial river was performed. The festival was alive with the sound of mridanga, conch, panava, dhundhuri, anaka, and gomukha—various instruments resounded as dancers danced joyfully and singers sang in groups. The music of vina, flute, and clapping rose up and touched the heavens. Kings adorned with golden garlands departed, riding elephants and chariots decorated with colorful banners and flags, accompanied by their splendidly adorned warriors. The Yadus, Sṛñjayas, Kambojas, Kurus, Kekayas, and Kosalas, leading their armies, shook the earth as they proceeded to the sacrifice. Distinguished sages, officiants, and the best of the twice-born, with loud chanting of Vedic hymns, were praised by the gods, sages, ancestors, and gandharvas, who showered flowers upon them. Men and women, adorned with fragrant garlands, ornaments, and fine garments, playfully sprinkled each other and enjoyed various delights. Women, smeared with oil, cow’s ghee, fragrant powders, turmeric, and rich saffron, playfully rubbed and enjoyed with the men. Protected by men, the queens went out unnoticed, like divine ladies in celestial chariots; as they were sprinkled by their maternal relatives and friends, their faces shone with bashful smiles. Those queens, together with their friends, sprinkled the gods with enthusiasm. Their garments wet, bodies and breasts exposed, their loosened garlands falling, they stirred the minds of those with impure thoughts by their charming play. The emperor, mounted on a chariot drawn by fine horses and adorned with gold, shone among his wives like the lord of a sacrifice among its rituals. After performing the ritual bath with his wives, the officiants, having purified themselves, bathed him in the Ganges together with Krishna. Divine drums resounded together with human drums; the gods, sages, ancestors, and humans showered flowers. All men, belonging to every class and stage of life, bathed, for even those guilty of great sins were instantly freed from impurity. The king, wearing fine silk and splendidly adorned, honored the officiants, sages, and brahmins with ornaments and garments. Devoted to Narayana, he repeatedly honored his relatives, acquaintances, kings, friends, and all others. All the people shone with divine radiance, wearing jeweled earrings, garlands, turbans, jackets, fine cloth, and precious necklaces. The women, adorned with pairs of earrings and groups of bangles, their faces beautiful, shone with golden girdles. Then the officiants of great virtue, the sages, and the brahminical scholars, along with the assembled kings of all four classes, gathered there. The gods, sages, ancestors, spirits, and guardians of the worlds, along with their attendants, having been honored, gave their permission and returned to their own abodes. The royal sages did not tire of praising Haridasa’s grand Rajasuya, just as mortals never tire of drinking nectar. Then King Yudhishthira, with affection, bade farewell to his friends, relatives, and kinsmen, and reluctantly to Krishna as well. The Blessed Lord Krishna, who brings joy to his dear ones, remained there for a time, after sending the Yadu heroes, including Samba and others, to Kusasthali. Thus, the son of Dharma, Yudhishthira, crossed the vast ocean of his cherished desires—so difficult to traverse—and, with Krishna’s help, became free from distress. Once, in the king’s palace, Duryodhana beheld the splendor and felt tormented by the greatness of the Rajasuya and the glory of Lord Achyuta. In that place, where the wealth of kings, demons, and gods—variously arranged by the Creator—shone forth, the lord stood beside Draupadi, and Kururaja’s heart was ensnared and tormented. There, at that time, a thousand queens of Madhupati, Krishna, with their heavy hips and softly tinkling anklets, surrounded his radiant face adorned with crimson necklaces, beautiful earrings, and flowing locks. In the assembly hall built by Maya, the son of Dharma, the emperor, sat surrounded by followers and kinsmen, and by Krishna, who watched with his own eyes. Seated on a golden throne, like Indra himself, endowed with supreme prosperity, he was praised by bards. Duryodhana, proud and surrounded by his brothers, wearing a crown and garland, sat with sword in hand, casting it down in anger. On the floor, he grasped the edge of a garment, thinking it was water, but it was dry; and in the water, he mistook it for solid ground, bewildered by Maya’s illusion. Thus, amidst the glory and joy of the Rajasuya, only Duryodhana was unable to rejoice, his heart consumed by envy and confusion, while all others celebrated the triumph of Dharma and the blessings of the Lord.