The Mahabharata
of
Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
BOOK 2
SABHA PARVA
Translated into English Prose from the
Original Sanskrit Text
by
Kisari Mohan Ganguli
[1883-1896]
Scanned at sacred-texts.com, 2003.
Proofed at Distributed Proofing, Juliet Sutherland, Project Manager. Additional
proofing and formatting at sacred-texts.com, by J. B. Hare.
SECTION 1
(Sabhakriya Parva)
Om! After having bowed down to Narayana, and
Nara, the most exalted male being, and also to the goddess Saraswati, must the
word Jaya be uttered.
"Vaisampayana said,--"Then, in the
presence of Vasudeva, Maya Danava, Arjuna, repeatedly spoke unto him with
joined hands and in amiable words,--'O son of Kunti, saved have I been by thee
from this Krishna in spate and from Agni desirous of consuming me. Tell me what
I have to do for thee.
"Arjuna said,--'O great Asura,
everything hath already been done by thee. Blest be thou. Go whithersoever thou
likest. Be kind and well-disposed towards me, as we are even kind to and well-pleased
with thee!'
"Maya said,--'What thou hast said is
worthy of thee, O exalted one. But, I desire to do something for thee cheerfully.
I am a great artist, a Viswakarma among the Danavas. Being what I am, I desire
to do something for thee.'
"Arjuna said,--'Thou regardest thyself
as saved from imminent death. Even if it hath been so, I cannot make thee do anything
for me. At the same time, O Danava, I do not wish to frustrate thy intentions.
Do thou something for Krishna. That will be a sufficient requital for my services
to thee.'
Vaisampayana said,--"Then, urged by
Maya, Vasudeva reflected for a moment as to what he should ask Maya to accomplish.
Krishna, having reflected in his mind, thus commanded Maya,--'Let a palatial
sabha (meeting hall) as thou choosest, be built, if thou, desirest to do good
to Yudhishthira. Indeed, build thou such a palace that persons belonging to the
world of men may not be able to imitate it even after examining it with care,
while seated within. And, O Maya, build thou a mansion in which we may behold a
combination of godly, asuric and human designs.'"
Vaisampayana continued,--"Having heard
those words, Maya became exceedingly glad. And he forthwith built a magnificent
palace for the son of Kundi like unto the palace of the celestials themselves.
Then Krishna and Arjuna after having narrated everything unto king Yudhishthira,
introduced Maya unto him. Yudhishthira received Maya with respect, offering him
the honour he deserved. And, Maya accepted that honour thinking highly of it.
Maya then recited unto the sons of Kunti the history of the Danava
Vrisha-parva, and Maya, having rested awhile, set himself after much thoughtful
planning to build a palace for the Kauntheyas. Agreeably to the wishes of both
Krishna and Kauntheyas, Maya, having performed on an auspicious day the initial
propitiatory rites of foundation and having also gratified thousands of
well-versed Brahmanas with sweetened milk and rice and with rich presents of
various kinds, measured out a plot of land five thousand cubits square, which
was delightful and exceedingly handsome to behold and which was favourable for
construction of a building well-suited to the exigencies of every season."
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