The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa | Page 4

mass of new

clouds conspicuous in the sky, the palace rose up coming into view of
all. Indeed, the palace that the dexterous Maya built was so wide,
delightful, and refreshing, and composed of such excellent materials,
and furnished with such golden walls and archways, and adorned with
so many varied pictures, and was withal so rich and well-built, that in
beauty it far surpassed Sudharma of the Dasarha race, or the mansion of
Brahma himself. And eight thousand Rakshasas called Kinkaras, fierce,
huge-bodied and endued with great strength, of red coppery eyes and
arrowy ears, well-armed and capable of ranging through the air, used to
guard and protect that palace. Within that palace Maya placed a
peerless tank, and in that tank were lotuses with leaves of
dark-coloured gems and stalks of bright jewels, and other flowers also
of golden leaves. And aquatic fowls of various species sported on its
bosom. Itself variegated with full-blown lotuses and stocked with fishes
and tortoises of golden hue, its bottom was without mud and its water
transparent. There was a flight of crystal stairs leading from the banks
to the edge of the water. The gentle breezes that swept along its bosom
softly shook the flowers that studded it. The banks of that tank were
overlaid with slabs of costly marble set with pearls. And beholding that
tank thus adorned all around with jewels and precious stones, many
kings that came there mistook it for land and fell into it with eyes open.
Many tall trees of various kinds were planted all around the palace. Of
green foliage and cool shade, and ever blossoming, they were all very
charming to behold. Artificial woods were laid around, always emitting
a delicious fragrance. And there were many tanks also that were
adorned with swans and Karandavas and Chakravakas (Brahminy
ducks) in the grounds lying about the mansion. And the breeze bearing
the fragrance of lotuses growing in water and (of those growing on land)
ministered unto the pleasure and happiness of the Pandavas. And Maya
having constructed such a palatial hall within fourteen months, reported
its completion unto Yudhishthira."
SECTION IV
Vaisampayana said,--"Then that chief of men, king Yudhishthira,
entered that palatial sabha having first fed ten thousand Brahmanas
with preparations of milk and rice mixed with clarified butter and
honey with fruits and roots, and with pork and venison. The king
gratified those superior Brahmanas, who had come from various

countries with food seasoned with seasamum and prepared with
vegetables called jibanti, with rice mixed with clarified butter, with
different preparations of meat--with indeed various kinds of other food,
as also numberless viands that are fit to be sucked and innumerable
kinds of drinks, with new and unused robes and clothes, and with
excellent floral wreaths. The king also gave unto each of those
Brahmanas a thousand kine. And, O Bharata, the voice of the gratified
Brahmanas uttering,--'What an auspicious day is this!' became so loud
that it seemed to reach heaven itself. And when the Kuru king entered
the palatial sabha having also worshipped the gods with various kinds
of music and numerous species of excellent and costly perfumes, the
athletes and mimes and prize-fighters and bards and encomiasts began
to gratify that illustrious son of Dharma by exhibiting their skill. And
thus celebrating his entry into the palace, Yudhishthira with his
brothers sported within that palace like Sakra himself in heaven. Upon
the seats in that palace sat, along with the Pandavas, Rishis and kings
that came from various countries, viz., Asita and Devala, Satya,
Sarpamali and Mahasira; Arvavasu, Sumitra, Maitreya, Sunaka and
Vali; Vaka, Dalvya, Sthulasira, Krishna-Dwaipayana, and Suka
Sumanta, Jaimini, Paila, and the disciples of Vyasa, viz., ourselves;
Tittiri, Yajanavalkya, and Lomaharshana with his son; Apsuhomya,
Dhaumya, Animandavya; and Kausika; Damoshnisha and Traivali,
Parnada, and Varayanuka, Maunjayana, Vayubhaksha, Parasarya, and
Sarika; Valivaka, Silivaka, Satyapala, and Krita-srama; Jatukarna, and
Sikhavat. Alamva and Parijataka; the exalted Parvata, and the great
Muni Markandeya; Pavitrapani, Savarna, Bhaluki, and Galava.
Janghabandhu, Raibhya, Kopavega, and Bhrigu: Harivabhru,
Kaundinya, Vabhrumali, and Sanatana, Kakshivat, and Ashija,
Nachiketa, and Aushija, Nachiketa, and Gautama; Painga, Varaha,
Sunaka, and Sandilya of great ascetic merit: Kukkura, Venujangha,
Kalapa and Katha;--these virtuous and learned Munis with senses and
souls under complete control, and many others as numerous, all
well-skilled in the Vedas and Vedangas and conversant with (rules of)
morality and pure and spotless in behaviour, waited on the illustrious
Yudhishthira, and gladdened him by their sacred discourses. And so
also numerous principal Kshatriyas, such as the illustrious and virtuous
Mujaketu, Vivarddhana, Sangramjit, Durmukha, the powerful Ugrasena;

Kakshasena, the lord of the Earth, Kshemaka the invincible; Kamatha,
the king of Kamvoja, and the mighty Kampana who alone made the
Yavanas to ever tremble at his name just as the god that wieldeth the
thunder-bolt maketh