14.090
the elevation (raising) of the sacrificial post;
Vaiśampāyana said.
He duly entered the residence of the Pāṇḍavas and addressed his grandmother with very gentle and sweet words. (14-90-1)
Thus, Citramgada, the noble lady, and also the daughter of Kauravya, along with Pṛthā and Kṛṣṇā together, respectfully approached Subhadrā, as well as the other Kuru women, as was appropriate. (14-90-2)
Then Kuntī gave various jewels to those two; Draupadī, Subhadrā, and the other women also gave (gifts). (14-90-3)
There, those two ladies slept on luxurious couches, having been personally honored by Kuntī out of her wish to please Pārtha. (14-90-4)
Then the king of great strength, honored Babhruvāhana, approached King Dhṛtarāṣṭra according to proper procedure. (14-90-5)
The greatly luminous one, having humbly approached king Yudhishthira and Bhima and the other Pāṇḍavas, saluted them. (14-90-6)
He was embraced with love and honored according to custom by them. The great chariot-warriors, being pleased, gave much wealth to him. (14-90-7)
In the same manner, the king approached Kṛṣṇa, the wielder of the discus and mace, with humility, just as Pradyumna would approach Govinda. (14-90-8)
Kṛṣṇa gave the king an excellent, honored, and very precious chariot, adorned with gold and yoked with divine horses. (14-90-9)
Dharmarāja, Bhīma, the two sons of Yama, and Phalguna likewise, each separately honored him who was worthy of honor with great respect. (14-90-10)
Then, on the third day, the eloquent sage, son of Satyavati, approached Yudhishthira and spoke these words. (14-90-11)
O son of Kunti, from today onward, sacrifice, for it is indeed your time. The auspicious moment fit for sacrifice has arrived, and the priests also urge you. (14-90-12)
O king, your sacrifice called Ahīna, since it is varied and abounds in gold, is known as Bahusuvarṇaka (the sacrifice with much gold). (14-90-13)
In this manner, O great king, make the gift threefold. Let your offering become triple, O king, for the Brāhmaṇas are truly the cause in this regard. (14-90-14)
O king, by performing three aśvamedha sacrifices here, accompanied by abundant gifts, you will remove the sin committed by killing your kindred. (14-90-15)
O joy of the Kurus, this is indeed the supreme purity and the purifier of purifiers; you will attain that which is the final bath of the horse-sacrifice. (14-90-16)
Thus addressed by Vyāsa of immeasurable energy, the brilliant and righteous-souled king entered upon the preparatory rites for attaining the horse-sacrifice at that time. The king then caused the Vājimedha, the great sacrifice, to be performed. (14-90-17)
There, O King, the knowers of the Vedas performed the rituals. The priests, who were learned in the scriptures and well-trained in correct procedures, moved about as required. (14-90-18)
There, among them, there was no mistake nor any misplaced utterance. The foremost of the twice-born performed everything there in proper order and suitably. (14-90-19)
Having properly performed the Pravargya sacrifice, the best of the twice-born who knew dharma, O king, likewise performed the Abhiṣava rite according to the prescribed injunctions. (14-90-20)
O king, then the foremost Soma-drinkers, having filtered the Soma, performed the libations in the proper order according to the scriptures. (14-90-21)
There, no one at all became miserable or poor. Nor was any man found hungry, afflicted, or ordinary. (14-90-22)
Bhīmasena, of great brilliance, always caused food to be given to those desiring it, constantly, by the king's command. (14-90-23)
In the ritual beds, the skilled sacrificers performed all the rites each day, acting with an understanding of the true import of the scriptures. (14-90-24)
In his learned assembly, there was no one who was not a knower of the six limbs, no one without vows, no one without a preceptor, and no twice-born who was not skilled in disputation. (14-90-25)
Then, when the sacrificial post was raised, O bull of the Bharata dynasty, six sticks of bilva wood, as well as sticks of khādira and bilva, all by all classes, were used. (14-90-26)
In the sacrifice of the lord of the Kurus, the priests caused two sacrificial posts made of deodar wood and one made of śleṣmātaka wood to be constructed. (14-90-27)
O bull among men, for the sake of splendor, Bhīma had other golden sacrificial posts made at the command of Dharmarāja. (14-90-28)
O royal sage, they, adorned with garments, shone brilliantly upon approaching the king, like the seven sages (Saptarṣis) shining among the gods in heaven. (14-90-29)
Golden bricks were made here for constructing the altar; the altar there shone like that of Dakṣa, the lord of creatures. (14-90-30)
He had four storeys and for it had a form with eighteen hands. He was golden-winged, adorned, possessed of threefold qualities, and had the form of Garuḍa. (14-90-31)
Thereafter, the wise assigned animals according to the śāstra; offering each to its respective deity, both birds and animals as prescribed. (14-90-32)
The eminent ones learned in the scriptures, as well as aquatic beings and others, all of them they engaged there in the agnicayana ritual. (14-90-33)
At the sacrificial posts, there was also a fixed number of three hundred cattle, surpassing even the finest horses, belonging to the king, the great-souled son of Kunti. (14-90-34)
That sacrifice shone forth, being directly filled with divine sages, crowded with groups of Gandharvas, and adorned by companies of the celestial nymphs. (14-90-35)
He was adorned by the songs of the Kimpuruṣas and by the Kinnaras, and was surrounded on all sides by the abodes of Siddhas and sages. (14-90-36)
In that assembly were always present the disciples of Vyāsa, the foremost among the twice-born, who authored all the śāstras and were skilled in sacrificial rites. (14-90-37)
Nārada, Tumburu of great splendor, Viśvāvasu, Citraseṇa, and other experts in singing were present here. (14-90-38)
The Gandharvas, who are skilled singers and accomplished in dance, delighted those Brāhmaṇas during the intervals of the sacrificial ceremonies. (14-90-39)
