तां स्म तत्र मयेनोक्ता रक्षन्ति च वहन्ति च। सभामष्टौ सहस्राणि किङ्करा नाम राक्षसाः
There, as told by Maya, eight thousand attendants called Rākṣasas guard and serve that assembly hall.
अन्तरिक्षचरा घोरा महाकाया महाबलाः। रक्ताक्षाः पिङ्गलाक्षाश्च शुक्तिकर्णाः प्रहारिणः
Moving through the sky, fierce, of great size and strength, with red and tawny eyes, shell-shaped ears, and skilled in combat.
तस्यां सभायां नलिनीं चकाराप्रतिमां मयः। वैदूर्यपत्रविततां मणिनालमयाम्बुजाम्
In that assembly hall, Maya created an incomparable lotus pond, its leaves fashioned from beryl, its lotus stalks and blossoms made of jewels.
पद्मसौगन्धिकवतीं नानाद्विजगणायुताम्। पुष्पितैः पङ्कजैश्चित्रां कूर्मैर्मत्स्यैश्च काञ्चनैः। चित्रस्फटिकसोपानां निष्पङ्कसलिलां शुभाम्
It was fragrant like lotuses and blue water-lilies, teeming with various flocks of birds, adorned with blooming lotuses, golden tortoises and fish, with splendid crystal stairways and pure, clear water.
मन्दानिलसमुद्धूतां मुक्ताबिन्दुभिराचिताम्। महामणिशिलापट्टबद्धपर्यन्तवेदिकाम्
Its waters were gently stirred by a soft breeze, scattered with drops of pearls, and its borders were lined with platforms of great gem slabs.
मणिरत्नचितां तां तु केचिदभ्येत्य पार्थिवाः। दृष्ट्वापि नाभ्यजानन्त तेऽज्ञानात्प्रपतन्त्युत
Some kings, approaching that jewel-adorned pond, even after seeing it, did not recognize it as artificial out of ignorance, and indeed fell in.
तां सभामभितो नित्यं पुष्पवन्तो महाद्रुमाः। आसन्नानाविधा लोलाः शीतच्छाया मनोरमाः
Around that hall always stood great flowering trees of many kinds, swaying gently, offering cool shade and delight.
काननानि सुगन्धीनि पुष्करिण्यश्च सर्वशः। हंसकारण्डवोपेताश्चक्रवाकोपशोभिताः
There were fragrant groves and lotus ponds everywhere, filled with swans and cranes, beautified by chakravaka ducks.
जलजानां च पद्मानां स्थलजानां च सर्वशः। मारुतो गन्धमादाय पाण्डवान्स्म निषेवते
The wind, carrying the fragrance of all the aquatic and terrestrial lotuses, would serve the Pandavas.
ईदृशीं तां सभां कृत्वा मासैः परिचतुर्दशैः। निष्ठितां धर्मराजाय मयो राजन्न्यवेदयत्
Having constructed such a hall in fourteen months, Maya reported its completion to King Yudhishthira.
तां तु कृत्वा सभां श्रेष्ठां मयश्चार्जुनमब्रवीत्। भूतानां च महावीर्यो ध्वजाग्रे किङ्करो गणः
After building that excellent hall, Maya spoke to Arjuna, the mighty one among beings, about the banner and its retinue at the tip of the flagstaff.
तव विष्फारघोषेण मेघवन्निनदिष्यति। अयं हि सूर्यसङ्काशो ज्वलनस्य रथो महान्।। 2
At the sound of your bowstring's thunder, the sky will resound; for here is the great chariot of fire, shining like the sun.
इमे च दिविजाः श्वेता वीर्यवन्तो हयोत्तमाः। मायामयः कृतो ह्येष ध्वजो वानरलक्षणः
And here are the divine, white, powerful, excellent horses; this banner, marked with a monkey, is fashioned by magic.
असज्जमानो वृक्षेषु धूमकेतुरिवोच्छ्रितः। बहुवर्णं हि लक्ष्येत ध्वजं वानरलक्षणम्
It does not get caught in trees, rising high like a smokey banner; the monkey-marked banner will be seen in many colors.
ध्वजोत्कटं ह्यनवमं युद्धे द्रक्ष्यसि विष्ठितम्। एव वीरः सव्यसाचिन्ध्वजस्यान्ते भविष्यति
You will see this banner, towering and unrivaled in battle, standing firm; thus, O hero, the left-handed archer will be at the end of the banner.
इत्युक्त्वाऽऽलिङ्ग्य वीभत्सुं विसृष्टः प्रययौ मयः
Having spoken thus and embraced Vibhatsu (Arjuna), Maya departed.
ततः प्रवेशनं तस्यां चक्रे राजा युधिष्ठिरः। अयुतं भोजयित्वा तु ब्राह्मणानां नराधिपः
Then King Yudhishthira held an inauguration in that hall, and after feeding ten thousand Brahmins, the lord of men—
साज्येन पायसेनैव मधुना मिश्रितेन च। भक्ष्यैर्मूलैः फलैश्चैव मांसैर्वाराहहारिणैः। कृसरेणाथ जीवन्त्या हविष्येण च सर्वशः
—with ghee and sweet rice mixed with honey, with roots, fruits, and meats of boar and deer, with krisara, jivanti, and all kinds of sacrificial food—
मांसप्रकारैर्विविधैः खाद्यैश्चापि तथा नृप। चोष्यैश्च विविधै राजन्पेयैश्च बहुविस्तरैः
—with various kinds of meat dishes, and also with many kinds of chewables and drinkables in great abundance, O king—
अहतैश्चैव वासोभिर्माल्यैरुच्चावचैरपि। तर्पयामास विप्रेन्द्रान्नानादिग्भ्यः समागतान्
—and with garments, both fine and coarse, and with garlands, he satisfied the best of Brahmins who had gathered from all directions.
ददौ तेभ्यः सहस्राणि गवां प्रत्येकशः पुनः। पुण्याहघोषस्तत्रासीद्दिवस्पृगिव भारत
He gave each of them thousands of cows once again; the proclamation of a holy day resounded there, O descendant of Bharata, as if it were the voice of the heavens.
वादित्रैर्विविधैर्दिव्यैर्गन्धैरुच्चावचैरपि। पूजयित्वा कुरुश्रेष्ठो देवतानि निवेश्य च
Having honored the deities with various divine instruments and fragrances, both subtle and strong, the best of the Kurus arranged for their worship.
तत्र मल्ला नटा झल्लाः सूता वैतालिकास्तथा। उपतस्थुर्महात्मानं धर्मपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम्
There, wrestlers, dancers, cymbal players, bards, and minstrels likewise attended upon the great-souled Yudhishthira, son of Dharma.
तथा स कृत्वा पूजां तां भ्रातृभिः सह पाण्डवः। तस्यां सभायां रम्यायां रेमे शक्रो यथा दिवि
Thus, having performed that worship together with his brothers, the Pandava delighted in that splendid assembly hall, like Indra in heaven.
सभायामृषयस्तस्यां पाण्डवैः सह आसते। आसाञ्चक्रुर्नरेन्द्राश्च नानादेशसमागताः
In that assembly, sages sat together with the Pandavas, and kings from many regions also took their seats.
असितो देवलः सत्यः सर्पिर्माली महाशिराः। अर्वा वसुः सुमित्रश्च मैत्रेयः शुनको बलिः
Asita, Devala, Satya, Sarpirmali, Mahashira, Arva, Vasu, Sumitra, Maitreya, Shunaka, and Bali were present.
बको दाल्भ्यः स्थूलशिराः कृष्णद्वैपायनः शुकः। सुमन्तुर्जैमिनिः पैलो व्यासशिष्यास्तथा वयम्
Baka, Dalbhya, Sthulashira, Krishna-Dvaipayana, Shuka, Sumantu, Jaimini, Paila, Vyasa’s disciples, and we ourselves were there.
तित्तिरिर्याज्ञवल्क्यश्च ससुतो रोमहर्षणः। अप्सुहोम्यश्च धौम्यश्च अणीमाण्डव्यकौशिकौ
Tittiri, Yajnavalkya, his son, Romaharshana, Apsuhomya, Dhaumya, Anima, Mandavya, and Kaushika were also present.
दामोष्णीपस्त्रैबलीश्च पर्णादो घटजानुकः। मौञ्जायनो वायुभक्षः पाराशर्यश्च सारिकः
Dama, Ushnipa, Traibali, Parnada, Ghatajanuka, Maunjayana, Vayubhaksha, Parashara, and Sarika were there.
बलिवाकः सिनीवाकः सप्तपालः कृतश्रमः। जातूकर्णः शिखावांश्च आलम्बः पारिजातकः
Balivaka, Sinivaka, Saptapala, Kritashrama, Jatukarṇa, Shikhavan, Alamba, and Parijatika were present.