Chapter 1

Om! After having bowed down to Narayana, and Nara, the most exalted malebeing, and also to the goddess Saraswati, must the word Jaya be uttered.

“Vaisampayana said,–“Then, in the presence of Vasudeva, Maya Danava,having worshipped Arjuna, repeatedly spoke unto him with joined hands andin amiable words,–‘O son of Kunti, saved have I been by thee from thisKrishna in spate and from Pavaka (fire) desirous of consuming me. Tell mewhat I have to do for thee.

“Arjuna said,–‘O great Asura, everything hath already been done by thee(even by this offer of thine). Blest be thou. Go whithersoever thoulikest. Be kind and well-disposed towards me, as we are even kind to andwell-pleased with thee!’

“Maya said,–‘O bull amongst men, what thou hast said is worthy of thee,O exalted one. But O Bharata, I desire to do something for theecheerfully. I am a great artist, a Viswakarma among the Danavas. O son ofPandu, 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 a sufficientrequital 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 to dogood to Yudhishthira the just. Indeed, build thou such a palace thatpersons belonging to the world of men may not be able to imitate it evenafter examining it with care, while seated within. And, O Maya, buildthou a mansion in which we may behold a combination of godly, asuric andhuman designs.'”

Vaisampayana continued,–“Having heard those words, Maya becameexceedingly glad. And he forthwith built a magnificent palace for the sonof Pandu like unto the palace of the celestials themselves. Then Krishnaand 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 highly of it. O monarch of the Bharatarace, that great son of Diti then recited unto the sons of Pandu thehistory of the Danava Vrisha-parva, and that foremost of artists then,having rested awhile, set himself after much thoughtful planning to builda palace for the illustrious sons of Pandu. Agreeably to the wishes ofboth Krishna and the sons of Pritha, the illustrious Danava of greatprowess, having performed on an auspicious day the initial propitiatoryrites of foundation and having also gratified thousands of well-versedBrahmanas with sweetened milk and rice and with rich presents of variouskinds, measured out a plot of land five thousand cubits square, which wasdelightful and exceedingly handsome to behold and which was favourablefor construction of a building well-suited to the exigencies of everyseason.”