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The Magnanimous King Moradhwaj
After the end of the Mahabharata war, the Pandavas, upon the advice of Shri Krishna, organized the Ashwamedha Yagna. After the Ashwamedha Yagna, a horse is released, and wherever the horse goes, the king of that kingdom accepts servitude to it. Arjuna was appointed to protect the horse. No king attempted to stop the horse because the brave Arjuna was protecting it.
The horse continued advancing, crossing several kingdoms until it reached the borders of the Ratnapur kingdom. King Moradhwaj of Ratnapur was highly righteous and a devout devotee of Shri Narayan. King Moradhwaj had a son named Tamradhwaj, who had received all education in warfare at a young age. The valiant Tamradhwaj stopped the horse of the Ashwamedha Yagna, and the protector of the horse, Arjuna, arrived there with his army. Arjuna said to the brave boy, “O boy, the horse you have stopped is the horse of the Ashwamedha Yagna of Emperor Yudhishthira, whose protection I myself am ensuring. No king has dared to capture this horse. The king of the kingdom where this horse has set foot has accepted servitude to Yudhishthira.”
“I forgive you considering it your mistake, so release this horse.”
In response, Tamradhwaj, boasting of his valor, said, “O Arjuna! Will you only speak, or will you also listen to me! I am the future emperor of Ratnapur, Tamradhwaj. My father is Moradhwaj, and my mother is Vidyadharini. I am a warrior’s son, and a warrior never becomes anyone’s servant.”
Upon this, Arjuna said, “O foolish boy, you do not know what you are doing. Your childishness can lead to a war, and you do not know the consequences of war. Therefore, release this horse and inform your father so that he can understand you.” A fierce battle ensued between Arjuna and Tamradhwaj, in which Arjuna fainted and fell down. Then Shri Krishna said, “There are greater heroes in this world than you – you have seen that. If you wish to see an even greater generous and devout person, then tell me.”
Arjuna said to Shri Krishna, “I definitely want to meet that devotee who is even greater than me.”
Then assuming the guise of a Brahmin, Shri Krishna and Arjuna, along with Yamaraja disguised as a lion, proceeded towards the kingdom of Ratnapur, where King Moradhwaj’s court was held. As soon as King Moradhwaj learned that sadhus had come to his court, he immediately left his throne, bowed to the sadhus, and sought their blessings.
Shri Krishna in the guise of a Brahmin said to King Moradhwaj, “We have heard much praise of your charity. It is renowned that no petitioner leaves your court empty-handed.”
King Moradhwaj said to Shri Krishna in the guise of a Brahmin, “It is the grace of Lord Narayan alone that till today no one has returned empty-handed from my court.”
The Brahmin disguised as Shri Krishna said, “We will not ask you for anything beyond your jurisdiction.”
Shri Krishna said to King Moradhwaj, “We have been traveling with three beings for a long time. Both of us would satiate our hunger by eating roots, but we also have this lion king with us, who only eats meat, and he only devours human flesh.”
Moradhwaj said to Shri Krishna, “I am myself present in front of the lion – if it devours me, I will consider myself blessed.” Shri Krishna said, “There is no shortage of those who give themselves on earth. If you would eat like you, we would not need to come to you.”
King Moradhwaj said to Shri Krishna, “Now you tell me how I can arrange food for the lion king.”
The Brahmin disguised as Shri Krishna said to the king, “To feed our lion, you will have to bring your queen along with your son Tamradhwaj and feed them to the lion.”
Hearing Shri Krishna’s voice, the entire court was stunned. Even Arjuna was frightened by Shri Krishna’s words. For a moment, the king also hesitated but then immediately composed himself.
King Moradhwaj said, “O great soul, blessed is my son Tamradhwaj, whom you have chosen for the lion king’s meal.” Shri Krishna said to the king that if tears come to the eyes of the parents while sacrificing their son, the lion king will not accept the food. King Moradhwaj convinced his son and wife.
Upon witnessing the king’s dedication and his words, Arjuna was amazed and astonished. Then the king took the sacrificial knife and, remembering the Supreme Father, began to sacrifice his son. Arjuna was shocked and fainted; his body was being divided into two parts by the sacrificial knife. In this way, Tamradhwaj’s body was divided into two parts. King Moradhwaj said to the Brahmin, “O great soul, you tell me, who are you – and for what reason have you tested me so much…?”
…Lord Shri Krishna showed King Moradhwaj his virat roop (universal form), and Moradhwaj fell at Shri Krishna’s feet. Witnessing this scene, Arjuna also fell at the feet of the magnanimous King Moradhwaj, and thus, Arjuna’s pride was destroyed in this manner.