Vaisampayana said,—­“Then, O bull of the Bharata race, urged by Maya, Vasudeva reflected for a moment as to what he should ask Maya to accomplish.  Krishna, the Lord of the universe and the Creator of every object, having reflected in his mind, thus commanded Maya,—­’Let a palatial sabha (meeting hall) as thou choosest, be built (by thee), if thou, O son of Diti, who art the foremost of all artists, desirest to do good to Yudhishthira the just.  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 Pandu like unto the palace of the celestials themselves.  Then Krishna and Partha (Arjuna) after having narrated everything unto king Yudhishthira the just, introduced Maya unto him.  Yudhishthira received Maya with respect, offering him the honour he deserved.  And, O Bharata, Maya accepted that honour thinking highly of it.  O monarch of the Bharata race, that great son of Diti then recited unto the sons of Pandu the history of the Danava Vrisha-parva, and that foremost of artists then, having rested awhile, set himself after much thoughtful planning to build a palace for the illustrious sons of Pandu.  Agreeably to the wishes of both Krishna and the sons of Pritha, the illustrious Danava of great prowess, 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.”

SECTION II

“Vaisampayana said,—­“Janardana deserving the worship of all, having lived happily at Khandavaprastha for some time, and having been treated all the while with respectful love and affection by the sons of Pritha, became desirous one day of leaving Khandavaprastha to behold his father.  That possessor of large eyes, unto whom was due the obeisance of the universe, then saluted both Yudhishthira and Pritha and made obeisance with his head unto the feet of Kunti, his father’s sister.  Thus revered by Kesava, Pritha smelt his head and embraced him.  The illustrious Hrishikesa approached his own sister Subhadra affectionately, with his eyes filled with tears, and spoke unto her words of excellent import and truth, terse proper, unanswerable and fraught with good.  The sweet-speeched Subhadra also, saluting him in return and worshipping him repeatedly with bent head, told him all that she wished to be