gold and their interiors were furnished with rows of pearls, their flights of stairs were easy of ascent and the floors were all laid over with costly carpets.  They were all hung over with garlands of flowers and perfumed with excellent aloes.  White as snow or the moon, they looked extremely handsome even from the distance of a yojana.  Their doors and entrances were set uniformly and were wide enough to admit a crowd of persons.  Adorned with various costly articles and built with various metals, they looked like peaks of the Himavat.  Having rested a while in those mansions the monarchs beheld king Yudhishthira the just surrounded by numerous Sadasyas (sacrificial priests) and ever performing sacrifices distinguished by large gifts to Brahmanas.  That sacrificial mansion wherein were present the kings and Brahmanas and great Rishis looked, O king, as handsome as heaven itself crowded with the gods!”

Thus ends the thirty-fourth section in the Rajasuyika Parva of the Sabha Parva.

SECTION XXXIV

Vaisampayana said,—­“then, O king, Yudhishthira, having approached and worshipped his grandfather and his preceptor, addressed Bhishma and Drona and Kripa and the son of Drona and Duryyodhana and Vivingsati, and said,—­’Help me ye all in the mater of this sacrifice.  This large treasure that is here is yours.  Consult ye with one another and guide me as ye desire.

“The eldest of the sons of Pandu, who had been installed at the sacrifice, having said this unto all, appointed every one of them to suitable offices.  He appointed Dussasana to superintend the department of food and other enjoyable articles.  Aswatthama was asked to attend on the Brahmanas.  Sanjaya was appointed to offer return-worship unto the kings.  Bhishma and Drona, both endued with great intelligence, were appointed to see what was done and what was left undone.  And the king appointed Kripa to look after the diamonds and gold and the pearls and gems, as also after the distribution of gifts to Brahmanas.  And so other tigers among men were appointed to similar offices.  Valhika and Dhritarashtra and Somadatta and Jayadratha, brought thither by Nakula, went about, enjoying themselves as lords of the sacrifice.  Vidura otherwise called Kshatta, conversant with every rule of morality, became the disburser.  Duryyodhana became the receiver of the tributes that were brought by the kings.  Krishna who was himself the centre of all worlds and round whom moved every creature, desirous of acquiring excellent fruits, was engaged at his own will in washing the feet of the Brahmanas.