The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa | Page 3

of Pritha, with minds fixed on Govinda, desisted
(from following him further) and unwillingly returned to their own city
in haste. And Krishna in his car soon reached Dwaraka followed by that
hero Satyaki. Then Sauri, the son of Devaki, accompanied by his
charioteer Daruka reached Dwaraka with the speed of Garuda."
Vaisampayana continued,--"Meanwhile king Yudhishthira of unfading
glory, accompanied by his brothers and surrounded by friends, entered
his excellent capital. And that tiger among men, dismissing all his
relatives, brothers, and sons, sought to make himself happy in the
company of Draupadi. And Kesava also, worshipped by the principal
Yadavas including Ugrasena, entered with a happy heart his own
excellent city. And worshipping his old father and his illustrious
mother, and saluting (his brother) Valadeva, he of eyes like lotus-petals
took his seat. Embracing Pradyumna, Shamva, Nishatha, Charudeshna,
Gada, Aniruddha and Bhanu, and obtaining the leave of all the elderly
men, Janardana entered the apartments of Rukmini."
SECTION III
Vaisampayana said,--"Then Maya Danava addressed Arjuna, that
foremost of successful warriors, saying,--'I now go with thy leave, but
shall come back soon. On the north of the Kailasa peak near the
mountains of Mainaka, while the Danavas were engaged in a sacrifice
on the banks of Vindu lake, I gathered a huge quantity of delightful and
variegated vanda (a kind of rough materials) composed of jewels and
gems. This was placed in the mansion of Vrishaparva ever devoted to
truth. If it be yet existing, I shall come back, O Bharata, with it. I shall
then commence the construction of the delightful palace of the
Pandavas, which is to be adorned with every kind of gems and
celebrated all over the world. There is also, I think, O thou of the Kuru
race, a fierce club placed in the lake Vindu by the King (of the Danavas)
after slaughtering therewith all his foes in battle. Besides being heavy
and strong and variegated with golden knobs, it is capable of bearing
great weight, and of slaying all foes, and is equal in strength unto an
hundred thousand clubs. It is a fit weapon for Bhima, even as the
Gandiva is for thee. There is also (in that lake) a large conch-shell
called Devadatta of loud sound, that came from Varuna. I shall no

doubt give all these to thee.' Having spoken thus unto Partha, the Asura
went away in a north-easterly direction. On the north of Kailasa in the
mountains of Mainaka, there is a huge peak of gems and jewels called
Hiranya-sringa. Near that peak is a delightful lake of the name of Vindu.
There, on its banks, previously dwelt king Bhagiratha for many years,
desiring to behold the goddess Ganga, since called Bhagirathee after
that king's name. And there, on its banks, O thou best of the Bharatas,
Indra the illustrious lord of every created thing, performed one hundred
great sacrifices. There, for the sake of beauty, though not according to
the dictates of the ordinance, were placed sacrificial stakes made of
gems and altars of gold. There, after performing those sacrifices, the
thousand-eyed lord of Sachi became crowned with success. There the
fierce Mahadeva, the eternal lord of every creature, has taken up his
abode after having created all the worlds and there he dwelleth,
worshipped with reverence by thousands of spirits. There Nara and
Narayana, Brahma and Yama and Sthanu the fifth, perform their
sacrifices at the expiration of a thousand yugas. There, for the
establishment of virtue and religion, Vasudeva, with pious devotion,
performed his sacrifices extending for many, many long years. There
were placed by Keshava thousands and tens of thousands of sacrificial
stakes adorned with golden garlands and altars of great splendour.
Going thither, O Bharata, Maya brought back the club and the
conch-shell and the various crystalline articles that had belonged to
king Vrishaparva. And the great Asura, Maya, having gone thither,
possessed himself of the whole of the great wealth which was guarded
by Yakshas and Rakshasas. Bringing them, the Asura constructed
therewith a peerless palace, which was of great beauty and of celestial
make, composed entirely of gems and precious stones, and celebrated
throughout the three worlds. He gave unto Bhimasena that best of clubs,
and unto Arjuna the most excellent conch-shell at whose sound all
creatures trembled in awe. And the palace that Maya built consisted of
columns of gold, and occupied, O monarch, an area of five thousand
cubits. The palace, possessing an exceedingly beautiful form, like unto
that of Agni or Suryya, or Soma, shone in great splendour, and by its
brilliance seemed to darken even the bright rays of the sun. And with
the effulgence it exhibited, which was a mixture of both celestial and
terrestrial light, it looked as if it was on fire. Like unto a