Which king performed the Rajasuya sacrifice?

Yudhishthira performed the Rajasuya sacrifice in the Mahabharata. The Rajasuya was an elaborate Vedic royal consecration ceremony intended to establish a king’s sovereignty and confirm his status as an imperial ruler.

Before undertaking it, Yudhishthira needed the submission or allegiance of other rulers. His brothers carried out conquests in different directions to secure tribute, while Krishna, Bhima, and Arjuna dealt with Jarasandha, the powerful king of Magadha whose opposition obstructed Yudhishthira’s claim to supremacy. After these preparations, the ceremony was held at Indraprastha.

The sacrifice also becomes a turning point in the epic. Yudhishthira honored Krishna with the first worship, provoking Shishupala’s angry protest; Krishna ultimately killed Shishupala. Duryodhana’s envy of the Pandavas’ prosperity after the ceremony helped lead to the dice game and the Pandavas’ exile. The Rajasuya is distinct from the later Ashvamedha, another royal ritual performed by Yudhishthira after the war.