’O Krishna it is for thee that the whole earth is under my sway.  And, O thou of the Vrishni race, it is through thy grace that vast wealth had been got by me.  And, O son of Devaki, O Madhava, I desire to devote that wealth according to the ordinance, unto superior Brahmanas and the carrier of sacrificial libations.  And, O thou of the Dasarha race, it behoveth thee, O thou of mighty arms, to grant me permission to celebrate a sacrifice along with thee and my younger brothers.  Therefore, O Govinda, O thou of long arms, install thyself at that sacrifice; for, O thou of the Dasarha race, if thou performed the sacrifice, I shall be cleansed of sin.  Or, O exalted one, grant permission for myself being installed at the sacrifice along with these my younger brothers, for permitted by thee, O Krishna.  I shall be able to enjoy the fruit of an excellent sacrifice.

Vaisampayana continued,—­“Unto Yudhisthira after he had said this, Krishna, extolling his virtues, said.—­’Thou, O tiger among kings, deservest imperial dignity.  Let, therefore, the great sacrifice be performed by thee.  And if thou performest that sacrifice an obtainest its fruit we all shall regard ourselves as crowned with success.  I am always engaged in seeking good.  Perform thou then the sacrifice thou desirest.  Employ me also in some office for that purpose, for I should obey all thy commands.  Yudhisthira replied—­O Krishna, my resolve is already crowned with fruit, and success also is surely mine, when thou, O Harishikesa, hast arrived here agreeably to my wish!’

Vaisampayana continued,—­“Commanded by Krishna, the son of Pandu along with his brothers set himself upon collecting the materials for the performance of the Rajasuya sacrifice.  And that chastiser of all foes, the son of Pandu, then commanded Sahadeva that foremost of all warriors and all ministers also, saying,—­Let persons be appointed to collect without loss of time, all those articles which the Brahmanas have directed as necessary for the performance of this sacrifice, and all materials and auspicious necessaries that Dhaumya may order as required for it, each of the kind needed and one after another in due order.  Let Indrasena and Visoka and Puru with Arjuna for his charioteer be engaged to collect food if they are to please me.  Let these foremost of the Kurus also gather every article of agreeable taste and smell that may delight and attract the hearts of the Brahmanas.’

“Simultaneously with these words of king Yudhisthira the just, Sahadeva that foremost of warriors, having accomplished everything, represented the matter to the king.  And Dwaipayana, O king, then appointed as sacrificial priests exalted Brahmanas that were like the Vedas themselves in embodied forms.  The son of Satyavati became himself the Brahma of that sacrifice.  And that bull of the Dhananjaya race, Susaman, became the chanter of the Vedic (Sama) hymns.  Yajnavalkya devoted to Brahma became the Adhyaryu,