to come back.  Then Bhima went out with a number of men well conversant with the rules of laying out sacrificial grounds and constructing buildings.  And he took with him many Brahmanas well-versed in all the rites of sacrifices.  Bhima selected a beautiful spot and caused it to be duly measured out for laying the sacrificial compound.  Numerous houses and mansions were constructed on it and high and broad roads also were laid out.  Soon enough the Kaurava hero caused that ground to teem with hundreds of excellent mansions.  The surface was levelled and made smooth with jewels and gems, and adorned with diverse structures made of gold.  Columns were raised, ornamented with bright gold, and high and wide triumphal arches also were constructed on that sacrificial compound.  All these were made of pure gold.  The righteous-souled prince also caused apartments to be duly constructed for the accommodation of ladies and of the numerous kings who, hailing from many realms, were expected to grace the sacrifice with their presence.  The son of Kunti also caused many mansions to be duly erected for Brahmanas who were expected to come from diverse realms.  Then the mighty-armed Bhimasena, at the command of the king, sent out messengers to the great kings of the Earth.  Those best of kings, came to the Horse-sacrifice of the Kuru monarch for doing what was agreeable to him.  And they brought many gems with them and many female slaves and horses and weapons.  The sounds that arose from those high-souled kings who resided within those pavilions touched the very heavens and resembled the noise made by the roaring ocean.  King Yudhishthira, the delighter of the Kurus, assigned unto the monarchs who thus came to his sacrifice diverse kinds of food and drink, and beds also of celestial beauty.  The chief of the Bharatas, viz., king Yudhishthira the just, assigned several stables well filled with different kinds of corn and sugarcane and milk to the animals (that came with the guests).  To that great sacrifice of king Yudhishthira the just who was possessed of high intelligence, there also came a large number of Munis all of whom were utterers of Brahman.  Indeed, O lord of Earth, all the foremost ones among the regenerate class that were then alive, came to that sacrifice, accompanied by their disciples.  The Kuru king received them all.  King Yudhishthira of mighty energy, casting off all pride, himself followed all his guests to the pavilions that had been assigned for their residence.  Then all the mechanics and engineers, having completed the arrangements of the sacrifice informed king Yudhishthira of it.  Hearing that everything was ready, king Yudhishthira the just, full of alertness and attention, became highly glad along with his brothers all of whom honoured him duly.’