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Editorial comment: Part 1 of THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANAVYASA can be found in the Project Gutenberg EBook#7864.
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The Mahabharata of
Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa
Translated into English Prose from the Original Sanskrit Text
by
Kisari Mohan Ganguli
[1883-1896]
(Sabhakriya Parva)
Om! After having bowed down to Narayana, and Nara, the most exaltedmale being, and also to the goddess Saraswati, must the word Jaya beuttered.
Vaisampayana said,—"Then, in the presence of Vasudeva, Maya Danava,having worshipped Arjuna, repeatedly spoke unto him with joined handsand in amiable words,—'O son of Kunti, saved have I been by thee fromthis Krishna in spate and from Pavaka (fire) desirous of consuming me.Tell me what I have to do for thee.'
"Arjuna said,—'O great Asura, everything hath already been done bythee (even by this offer of thine). Blest be thou. Go whithersoeverthou likest. Be kind and well-disposed towards me, as we are even kindto and well-pleased with thee!'
"Maya said,—'O bull amongst men, what thou hast said is worthy ofthee, O exalted one. But O Bharata, I desire to do something for theecheerfully. I am a great artist, a Viswakarma among the Danavas. O sonof Pandu, being what I am, I desire to do something for thee.'
"Arjuna said,—'O sinless one, thou regardest thyself as saved (by me)from imminent death. Even if it hath been so, I cannot make thee doanything for me. At the same time, O Danava, I do not wish to frustratethy intentions. Do thou something for Krishna. That will be asufficient requital for my services to thee.'"
Vaisampayana said,—"Then, O bull of the Bharata race, urged by Maya,Vasudeva reflected for a moment as to what he should ask Maya toaccomplish. Krishna, the Lord of the universe and the Creator of everyobject, having reflected in his mind, thus commanded Maya,—'Let apalatial sabha (meeting hall) as thou choosest, be built (by thee), ifthou, O son of Diti, who art the foremost of all artists, desirest todo good to Yudhishthira the just. Indeed, build thou such a palace thatpersons belonging to the world of men may not be able to imitate iteven after examining it with care, while seated within. And, O Maya,build thou a mansion in which we may behold a combination of godly,asuric and human designs.'"
Vaisampayana continued,—"Having heard those words, Maya becameexceedingly glad. And he forthwith built a magnificent palace for theson of Pandu like unto the palace of the celestials themselves. ThenKrishna and Partha (Arjuna) after having narrated everything unto kingYudhishthira the just, introduced Maya unto him. Yudhishthira receivedMaya with respect, offering him the honour he deserved. And, O Bharata,Maya accepted that honour thinking h