While Raghupati, the priest of the Bhuvaneshwari Devi temple, believes that in order to please the goddess, a live sacrifice is essential, Raja Govind puts a ban on the practice. What follows is a struggle of power between the priest and the king. Raja Govind renounces his throne an becomes a Rajarishi, a royal sage. But he still hasn't lost his kingdom. How will the Rajarishi emerge victorious? An entertaining tale on the practice of Bali Pratha, Rajarishi continues to remain one of Tagore's greatest novels.