14.087
The prosperity of the sacrifice;
Vaiśampāyana said.
But when that sacrifice commenced, the eloquent disputants engaged in many logical arguments, each desiring to defeat the others. (14-87-1)
O joy of the Kurus, the kings saw the excellent procedure of the sacrifice, performed by Bhīma, just as (it was done) for Indra. (14-87-2)
They saw gateways here made of gold, and also many beds, seats, and resting places adorned with gems. (14-87-3)
He saw pots, bowls, large dishes, pitchers, and measuring vessels—but, O kings, he did not see anything made of gold there. (14-87-4)
He had sacrificial posts of great splendor made of wood and adorned with gold, prepared according to the time and as prescribed by the scriptures. (14-87-5)
O lord, the kings saw all those animals—whether born on land or in water, and any others—that had been assembled together. (14-87-6)
Cows and buffaloes, as well as old people, women, water-dwelling beings, other living creatures, beasts of prey, and birds. (14-87-7)
They saw beings born from placenta, egg, sweat, and sprouting, and beings dwelling on mountains, in wetlands, and in forests. (14-87-8)
Thus, everything was joyful with abundance of animals, cattle, and grain. The kings, seeing the sacrificial enclosure, were greatly astonished at the plentiful, sumptuous food of the Brāhmaṇas and the people. (14-87-9)
When one hundred thousand Brāhmaṇas were eating there, the kettledrum, sounding like thunder, was beaten again and again. (14-87-10)
At that time, day by day, with loud noise, the sacrifice of the wise Dharmarāja was thus conducted. (14-87-11)
O king, there were many heaps of food resembling mountains; streams of curd and shining lakes of ghee were seen. (14-87-12)
O king, the entire Jambūdvīpa, filled with many peoples and countries, was indeed seen united in one place at that great sacrifice of the king. (14-87-13)
O bull of the Bharatas, there, many thousands of classes of men from all sides came here, having taken wealth. (14-87-14)
Kings, adorned with garlands and polished jewel-earrings, attended those eminent Brāhmaṇas in their hundreds and thousands. (14-87-15)
They gave to the Brāhmaṇas the various foods and drinks, fit to be enjoyed by kings, which belonged to those men who were their attendants. (14-87-16)
