A King of रत्ननगर . After performing seven अश्वमेध यागस् this King started another अश्वमेध in the नर्मदा river valley. The task of protecting the sacrificial horse was undertaken by the King's son सुचित्र or ताम्रध्वज . He set out for the conquest of the world with the chief minister बहुध्वज . On his return, he came across युधिष्ठिर 's अश्वमेध horse at the city of मणिपुर् . The heroic सुचित्र encountered श्री कृष्ण and अर्जुन who were leading the horse. After making them unconscious, he entered the city with the sacrificial horse.

When they recovered their senses, श्री कृष्ण disguised himself as a ब्राह्मण and अर्जुन as a ब्राह्मण boy and they went to मयूरध्वज 's palace. The King welcomed them respectfully. श्री कृष्ण , in his disguise as ब्राह्मण told the King that he was coming from धर्मपुरी to meet the King's priest, कृष्ण who was to officiate at the marriage of his ( ब्राह्मण 's) son. He added that unfortunately on his way through a forest a lion caught hold of his son. Although he prayed to Lord नरसिंह , the boy could not be rescued. The lion told him that he would release his son, if the ब्राह्मण persuaded मयूरध्वज to offer one half of his body as food to the lion.

On hearing the ब्राह्मण 's story, मयूरध्वज agreed to give half of his body to the lion. Just then his queen कुमुद्वती appeared before them and said, "I am the left half ( वामभाग ) of the King. You may take me and offer me as food for the lion." But the ब्राह्मण replied that the lion wanted the right half of the King's body.

When the King heard this, he readily agreed to give the right half of his own body. Accordingly, they started cutting his body into two halves. Just then, seeing tears coming down from मयूरध्वज 's left eye, the ब्राह्मण said:--"I find that you are in great sorrow; I do not wish to accept a gift which is not given wholeheartedly." मयूरध्वज explained that his tears were not caused by pain or sorrow. His left side was disappointed in not being able to be of as much service as the right side.

When श्रीकृष्ण heard these words of the King, he resumed his own shape and embraced him and blessed him. After that मयूरध्वज completed his याग and started with कृष्ण and अर्जुन , taking युधिष्ठिर 's sacrificial horse with them. (Jaimini • Aśvamedha: 41-46) .