02.031
Core-Pancharatra: All the dignitaries arrive to participate in the sacrifice.
Vaiśampāyana said.
Nakula, the Pandava and conqueror of assemblies, went to Hastinapura and addressed Bhishma and Dhritarashtra. (2-31-1)
With joyful hearts, led by the Brāhmaṇas, they proceeded to the sacrifice; upon hearing of Dharmarāja's sacrifice, the knowers of sacrifice then went there. (2-31-2)
O best of men, hundreds of others with delighted minds also came, wishing to see the assembly, as well as Dharmarāja and the Pāṇḍava. (2-31-3)
O Bhārata, all the kings from every direction assembled there, bringing with them various and great gems. (2-31-4)
Dhritarashtra, Bhishma, Vidura the wise, and all the brothers led by Duryodhana were present. (2-31-5)
After being duly honoured and consulted, all the kings, headed by the preceptor, as well as the king of Gandhara, Subala, and the mighty Śakuni, were present. (2-31-6)
Acala, Vṛṣaka, Karṇa—foremost among chariot-warriors—Ṛta, Śalya, the king of Madra, and Bāhlika, the great chariot-warrior, were present. (2-31-7)
Then Soma-datta, the Kaurava, Bhūri, Bhūriśravā, Śala, Aśvatthāmā, Kṛpa, Droṇa, the Sindhu king, and Jayadratha (2-31-8).
Yajñasena with his son, Śālva, the lord of the earth, Prāgjyotiṣa, and the renowned king Bhagadatta were present. (2-31-9)
King Bṛhadbala, along with all the kings, the mountain-dwellers, the foreigners, and those living by the ocean marshlands, was present. (2-31-10)
The Pauṇḍraka, Vāsudeva, Vanga, Kaliṅga, Ākarṣa, Kuntala, Vānavāsya, and Āndhraka kings also came. (2-31-11)
The Dravidians, the Sinhalas, the king of Kashmir, Kuntibhoja of great splendor, and Suhma of immense strength (2-31-12).
The Bāhlikas, other valiant kings, Virāṭa with his sons, Mācella the great chariot-warrior, as well as kings, princes, and lords from various countries were present. (2-31-13)
O Bhārata, Shishupala, who was of great strength and arrogant in battle, came with his son to the sacrifice of the son of Pandu. (2-31-14)
Rāma, Aniruddha, Babhru, Sahasāraṇa, Gada, Pradyumna, Sāmba, and the powerful Cārudeṣṇa were also present. (2-31-15)
Ulmuka, Niśaṭha, the valiant Pradyumna, and all the Vṛṣṇis, along with other great chariot-warriors, assembled together. (2-31-16)
Many kings from the central region, along with others, came to attend the great Rājasūya sacrifice of the son of Pāṇḍu. (2-31-17)
By the command of Dharmarāja, they provided them with dwellings having many compartments, adorned with ponds and trees, O king. (2-31-18)
Thus, the son of Dharma performed the highest worship for them. The honored kings then went to their lodgings as instructed. (2-31-19)
They were as renowned as the peak of Kailāsa, delightful to behold, adorned with precious materials, and entirely surrounded by lofty, well-constructed white ramparts. (2-31-20)
They were covered with golden nets, adorned with jeweled floors, had stairs that were easy to ascend, and were furnished with grand seats. (2-31-21)
They were adorned with garlands and wreaths, fragrant with the finest aloeswood, and their appearance was as radiant as the rays of a swan, beautifully arranged. (2-31-22)
They were spacious, with equal entrances, endowed with various elevations and qualities, their parts bound by many minerals, resembling the peaks of the Himalayas. (2-31-23)
After resting, the kings saw Yudhishthira, the king of dharma, who was surrounded by many members and was generous with gifts. (2-31-24)
O king, that assembly, filled with kings and great-souled brāhmaṇas, shone at that time like the sky's back illuminated by the immortals. (2-31-25)
