Regular morning discussions have the court busy when I enter on the red carpet. I never care to join such incompetent village simpletons in debate; it's hopeless.
As I walk to the chief—my foster father, King Ugrasena—the elders stare at me in disgust, while the ministers look unnerved. The chiefs of other Yadava clans hate my ways. Especially the Vrishni clan chief, Vasudev, who has a grudge against me for trying to kill his wife on the day after their wedding.
I walk right in front of the King. His personal guard looks at me as if he expects me to kneel. Don't you dare look down on me!
I look at the king sitting up above on the throne and say, "Chief of the Yadavas! I'm here to inform you about my marriage proposal to the princesses of the Magadha kingdom. I sent a letter of proposal to the King Jarasandha, and he seems to have approved."
With a neutral expression, he says, "I don't remember giving you the authority to send letters of proposal to kings of other kingdoms without my permission."
I need your permission now? Cockeyed! "My apologies, Chief!" I say reluctantly. "I thought it would be good for relations between Surasena and the Magadha kingdoms. I sent the letter on your behalf, Chief."
"Given that our crown prince's marital alliance with the Magadha kingdom will help our trade and secure military support, I agree to this proposal," says King Ugrasena in a loud voice. "Anybody who is against this may raise their voice now."
Nobody is against it. A letter is sent to the Magadha kingdom, and the first step of my plan is a success. You really don't know what's waiting for you in Magadha, Father!
After several months, the day of my wedding is finally at hand. I go to Girivraja for the Vara-satkaram ceremony. There, at the Madhuparka ceremony, Jarasandha washes my feet with honour and offers me Panchamrita. It isn't sweet; it tastes like power.
I see Asti and Prapti enter Mathura with a mighty army battalion as their royal escort: horses, elephants, and trained, battle-hardened men. My golden crown is marching toward me! And so are the keys to my revenge.
Sacred fires are lit, and Vedic hymns are incanted. And as I take the seven sacred strides, I see myself ascending the throne of Mathura. My hands are sweaty from the heat of the fire, but it feels like I am the one holding the fire. These will be the last Vedic hymns incanted in Mathura!
On the night of that day, Jarasandha invites Ugrasena and me in private to discuss plans for the alliance's future. This is a cover for cutting him off from his personal guards and close relatives. We are in a quiet, well-lit and open room, but the only people present are Jarasandha, my personal guards, and Ugrasena.
"King Ugrasena, I want my son-in-law to be the king," says Jarasandha, and Ugrasena stares, looking confused. "Give him the throne of Mathura, and he shall show you how a kingdom is ruled."
"I refuse!" says Ugrasena, with a sweaty, pale face. "The confederacy will revolt! I can't risk the stability of the kingdom for your foolish demand!"
"You know why King Jarasandha brought a massive battalion as royal escort, father? It's better to give up the throne than throw yourself into the war. Your confederacy is a bunch of fools; it won't be hard to handle them," I say, looking him in the eye.
His eyes turn red. His hand strikes my face. I punch him back. Multiple times, until he collapses. Blood from his face pours over the carpet. "Take him to the dungeons. I won't kill him; let him suffer!" I order my guards.
"That didn't go according to plan. I was ready for a war!" says Jarasandha, disappointed.
"We had no chance of negotiation after his rage took over. We had no option," I say with conviction.
"It's your rage that took over! And we still have my army to start a war. Now the situation is a stalemate," Jarasandha says, looking red.
"War will make the kingdom vulnerable, and we will make enemies out of Ugrasena's allies! Don't you see me trying to avoid war! It's not a stalemate! We can still make this work; it'll just take some time," I call out the obvious reality.
My father, not being present at the Vidai ceremony, is ignored after I tell them that he is busy with envoys of the Kuru and Panchala kingdoms. After the court has not seen the face of my father for four months, I declare myself king. I ban the recitation of the Vedas and the worship of Vishnu in the kingdom. I suppress the Yadava Confederacy and establish totalitarian rule. I increase taxes and military influence. Most of the Yadava Confederacy flees to the kingdoms of Kuru and Panchala.