In the region where the fishermen’s village lay, with its winding lanes and bustling alleys, a devoted Brahmin began to prepare the sacrificial enclosure, carefully following every prescribed rule. The place was soon transformed, crowded with hundreds of splendid palaces, each adorned with precious gems and gold, shining with a brilliance reminiscent of Indra’s own celestial mansion. Pillars decorated with gold were erected, grand gateways constructed, and pure gold laid out in the designated areas for the sacred rites. Within this magnificent setting, inner chambers were built for kings arriving from distant lands, each chamber crafted according to proper customs for those righteous rulers. Numerous halls were also arranged for Brahmins and merchants who had journeyed from various regions, all in strict accordance with the sacred regulations. For the king’s pleasure and the festival’s grandeur, eminent rulers brought with them a wealth of jewels, and women gathered for the celebration. As these noble souls entered their camps, a sound rose up—like the roar of the ocean—reaching toward the heavens. The king, foremost among sages, ensured that every guest received comfortable dwellings and beds for their rest. He personally oversaw the preparation of a variety of foods—rice, sugarcane, barley, and cow’s milk—so that all would be well nourished. At this great sacrifice, many learned expounders of Brahman and distinguished twice-borns gathered, each accompanied by their disciples. The king welcomed them all, escorting them to their lodgings with reverent hospitality. Renouncing pride, the splendid king himself worked alongside the artisans, performing his own tasks with humility. The artisans presented the entire sacrificial procedure to him, and as he listened, the king’s heart was filled with joy—his hair standing on end with excitement. When the sacrifice commenced, eloquent debaters engaged in lively arguments, each striving to demonstrate their wisdom. Those present beheld gateways of pure gold, as if Indra himself had arranged them for the lion-like king. Beds, seats, couches, heaps of jewels, jars, vessels, bowls, and ever-increasing pitchers were seen everywhere. No impurity marred the sight; the sacrificial posts, adorned with gold, were made of wood as prescribed in the scriptures. All the animals to be offered—both land-dwelling and aquatic—radiant and brought forth in due season, were assembled according to proper rites. The kings saw a gathering of beings: cows and buffaloes, along with elderly women. Aquatic creatures, wild beasts, birds, and beings born from womb, egg, sweat, and sprout were all present. Mountains, heaps of grain, and all beings rejoiced in the abundance of cattle, wealth, and grain. The kings were filled with wonder at the sacrificial enclosure, amazed by the plentiful food offered to Brahmins and the people. When a full hundred thousand Brahmins were feasting, drums resounded again and again, thundering like storm clouds. Day after day, the sacrificial ground echoed with continuous sounds, and thus the wise king’s sacrifice flourished. The Brahmins saw countless heaps of food, streams of curds, and lakes of milk. It seemed as though the entire Jambudvipa, filled with many peoples and Brahmins, had gathered at the king’s grand sacrifice. Thousands upon thousands of men, each carrying a vessel, departed—many excellent Brahmins among them. All were adorned with polished jeweled earrings, serving the twice-born in hundreds and thousands. Attendants of the king distributed various drinks to the Brahmins, including the king’s own share. He honored all assembled—knowers of the Veda and rulers of the earth—with proper worship and abundant gifts. Warriors famed for great battles arrived from all directions, joined by dancers, actors, skilled singers, and praisers, all present for the king. The king’s wives were enchanting, with full, high breasts, eyes like blue lotuses and palasha flowers, faces radiant like the autumn moon. Endowed with noble lineage, character, and virtues, they numbered a thousand and one hundred, together with the king’s other principal wives. Adorned with strings of gems, attended by banners and flags, beautiful with jeweled necklaces, they shone with the brilliance of moonstone. Hundreds and millions of elephants, mountain-like in form, drenched in rut, mighty in strength, and adorned with tusk ornaments, were assembled. Swift horses from the Sindhu region, splendid in appearance—white steeds and those with dark ears, countless in number and endowed with speed—were also present. Innumerable foot soldiers, girded and armored, equipped with various weapons and ready for battle, stood like sons of the gods. Beholding this vast array of sacrificial preparations, the king was filled with delight and spoke joyfully: “Bring forth the finest horse, marked with all auspicious signs; let the disciplined princes lead it across the earth. Let learned and righteous men perform the sacrificial rite here; bring a black goat, a buffalo, and a black antelope for the twice-born.” Thus, the grand sacrifice unfolded, radiant with splendor, abundance, and the fulfillment of sacred tradition.