said,--"I shall now recite to you the deeds and triumphs of , and how that exalted one conquered the direction that had once been subjugated by . The intelligent , surrounded by a large host, set out from Khandavaprastha for the west, making this earth tremble with the shouts and the leonine roars of the warriors and the deep rattle of chariot wheels. And the hero first assailed the mountainous country called Rohitaka that was dear unto to (the celestial generalissimo) Kartikeya and which was delightful and prosperous and full of kine and every kind of wealth and produce. And the encounter the son of had with the Mattamyurakas of that country was fierce. And the illustrious after this, subjugated the whole of the desert country and the region known as Sairishaka full of plenty, as also that other one called Mahetta. And the hero had a fierce encounter with the royal sage Akrosa. And the son of left that part of the country having subjugated the Dasarnas, the Sivis, the Trigartas, the Amvashtas, the Malavas, the five tribes of the Karnatas, and those twice born classes that were called the Madhyamakeyas and Vattadhanas. And making circuitous journey that bull among men then conquered the (Mlechcha) tribes called the Utsava-sanketas. And the illustrious hero soon brought under subjection the mighty Gramaniya that dwelt on the shore of the sea, and the Sudras and the Abhiras that dwelt on the banks of the Saraswati, and all those tribes that lived upon fisheries, and those also that dwelt on the mountains, and the whole of the country called after the five rivers, and the mountains called Amara, and the country called Uttarayotisha and the city of Divyakutta and the tribe called Dwarapala. And the son of , by sheer force, reduced to subjection the Ramathas, the Harahunas, and various kings of the west. And while staying there sent. O Bharata, messengers unto to . And with all the Yadavas accepted his sway. And the mighty hero, proceeding thence from there to Sakala, the city of the Madras, made his uncle accept from affection the sway of the Pandavas. And, O monarch, the illustrious prince deserving the hospitality and entertainment at his uncle's hands, was well entertained by his uncle. And skilled in war, the prince, taking from a large quantity of jewels and gems, left his kingdom. And the son of then reduced to subjection the fierce Mlechchas residing on the sea coast, as also the wild tribes of the Palhavas, the Kiratas, the Yavanas, and the Sakas. And having subjugated various monarchs, and making all of them pay tributes, that foremost of the Kurus, full of resources, retraced his way towards his own city. And, O king, so great was the treasure which brought that ten thousand camels could carry it with difficulty on their backs. And arriving at Indraprastha, the heroic and fortunate son of presented the whole of that wealth unto to .
"Thus, O king, did subjugate the countries that lay to the west--the direction that is presided over by the god , and that had once before been subjugated by himself!"
(Rajasuyika Parva)
said,--"in consequence of the protection afforded by the just, and of the truth which he ever cherished in his behaviour, as also of the check under which he kept all foes, the subjects of that virtuous monarch were all engaged in their respective avocations. And by reason of the equitable taxation and the virtuous rule of the monarch, clouds in his kingdom poured as much rain as the people desired, and the cities and the town became highly prosperous. Indeed as a consequence of the monarch's acts; every affair of the kingdom, especially cattle bleeding, agriculture and trade prospered highly. O king, during those days even robbers and cheats never spoke lies amongst themselves, nor they that were the favourites of the monarch. There were no droughts and floods and plagues and fires and premature deaths in those days of devoted to virtue. And it was only for doing agreeable services, or for worshipping, or for offering tributes that would not impoverish, that other kings used to approach (and not for hostility or battle.) The large treasure room of the king became so much filled with hoards of wealth virtuously obtained that it could not be emptied even in a hundred years. And the son of , ascertaining the state of his treasury and the extent of his possessions, fixed his heart upon the celebration of a sacrifice. His friends and officers, each separately and all together, approaching him said,--'The time hath has come, O exalted one, for thy your sacrifice. Let arrangements, therefore, be made without loss of time.' While they were thus talking, (), that omniscient and ancient one, that soul of the Vedas, that invincible one as described by those that have knowledge, that foremost of all lasting existences in the universe, that origin of all things, as also that in which all things come to be dissolved, that lord of the past, the future, and the present --the slayer of Kesi, and the bulwark of all Vrishnis and the dispeller of all fear in times of distress and the smiter of all foes, having appointed to the command of the (Yadava) army, and bringing with him for the king just a large mass of treasure; entered that excellent city of cities. Khandava, himself surrounded by a mighty host and filling the atmosphere with the rattle of his chariot-wheels. And , that tiger among men enhancing that limitless mass of wealth the Pandavas had by that inexhaustible ocean of gems he had brought, enhanced the sorrows of the enemies of the Pandavas. The capital of the Bharata was gladdened by 's presence just as a dark region is rendered joyful by the sun or a region of still air by a gentle breeze. Approaching him joyfully and receiving him with due respect, enquired of his welfare. And after had been seated at ease, that bull among men, the son of , with and and the other sacrificial priests and with and and the twins, addressed thus,--
'O it is for thee you that the whole earth is under my sway. And, O thou you of the Vrishni race, it is through thy your grace that vast wealth had been got by me. And, O son of Devaki, O , I desire to devote that wealth according to the ordinance, unto to superior Brahmanas and the carrier of sacrificial libations. And, O thou you of the race, it behoveth behooves thee you, O thou you of mighty arms, to grant me permission to celebrate a sacrifice along with thee you and my younger brothers. Therefore, O , O thou you of long arms, install thyself at that sacrifice; for, O thou you of the race, if thou you performed the sacrifice, I shall be cleansed of sin. Or, O exalted one, grant permission for myself being installed at the sacrifice along with these my younger brothers, for permitted by thee you, O . I shall be able to enjoy the fruit of an excellent sacrifice.
continued,--"Unto to after he had said this, , extolling his virtues, said.--'Thou you, O tiger among kings, deservest deserve imperial dignity. Let, therefore, the great sacrifice be performed by thee you. And if thou you performest perform that sacrifice an obtainest obtain its fruit we all shall regard ourselves as crowned with success. I am always engaged in seeking good. Perform thou you then the sacrifice thou you desirest. Employ me also in some office for that purpose, for I should obey all thy your commands. replied--O , my resolve is already crowned with fruit, and success also is surely mine, when thou you, O Harishikesa, hast have arrived here agreeably to my wish!'
continued,--"Commanded by , the son of along with his brothers set himself upon collecting the materials for the performance of the Rajasuya sacrifice. And that chastiser of all foes, the son of , then commanded that foremost of all warriors and all ministers also, saying,--Let persons be appointed to collect without loss of time, all those articles which the Brahmanas have directed as necessary for the performance of this sacrifice, and all materials and auspicious necessaries that may order as required for it, each of the kind needed and one after another in due order. Let Indrasena and Visoka and Puru with for his charioteer be engaged to collect food if they are to please me. Let these foremost of the Kurus also gather every article of agreeable taste and smell that may delight and attract the hearts of the Brahmanas.'
"Simultaneously with these words of king the just, that foremost of warriors, having accomplished everything, represented the matter to the king. And , O king, then appointed as sacrificial priests exalted Brahmanas that were like the Vedas themselves in embodied forms. The son of became himself the Brahma of that sacrifice. And that bull of the Dhananjaya race, Susaman, became the chanter of the Vedic (Sama) hymns. Yajnavalkya devoted to became the Adhyaryu, and Paila--the son of Vasu and became the Hotris. And O bull of the Bharata race, the disciples and the sons of these men, all well-acquainted with the Vedas and the branches of the Vedas, became Hotragts. And all of them, having uttered benedictions and recited the object of the sacrifice, worshipped, according to the ordinance the large sacrificial compound. Commanded by the Brahmanas, builders and artificers erected numerous edifices there that were spacious and well-perfumed like unto to the temples of the gods. After these were finished, that best of kings and that bull among men . commanded his chief adviser , saying,--'Despatch thou you, without loss of time, messengers endued with speed to invite all to the sacrifice. And , hearing these words of the king, despatched messengers telling them,--'Invite ye you all the Brahmanas in the kingdom and all the owners of land (Kshatriyas) and all the Vaisyas and also all the respectable Sudras, and bring them hither here!'
continued,--"Endued with speed, these messengers then, thus commanded, invited everybody according to the orders of the Pandava, without losing any time, and brought with them many persons, both friends and strangers. Then, O Bharata, the Brahmanas at the proper time installed the son of at the Rajasuya sacrifice. And after the ceremony of installation was over, that foremost of men, the virtuous king the just like the god himself in human frame, entered the sacrificial compound, surrounded by thousands of Brahmanas and his brothers and the relatives and friends and counsellors, and by a large number of Kshatriya kings who had come from various countries, and by the officers of State. Numerous Brahmanas, well-skilled in all branches of knowledge and versed in the Vedas and their several branches, began to pour in from various countries. Thousands of craftsmen, at the command of king the just, erected for those Brahmanas with their attendants separate habitations well-provided with food and clothes and the fruits and flowers of every season. And, O king, duly worshipped by the monarch the Brahmanas continued to reside there passing their time in conversation on diverse topics and beholding the performances of actors and dancers. And the clamour of high-souled Brahmanas, cheerfully eating and talking, was heard there without intermission. 'Give,' and 'Eat' were the words that were heard there incessantly and every day. And, O Bharata, king the just gave unto to each of those Brahmanas thousands of kine and beds and gold coins and damsels.
Thus commenced on earth the sacrifice of that unrivalled hero, the illustrious son of , like the sacrifice in heaven of himself. Then that bull among men, king despatched the son of unto to Hastinapura to bring and , and and and those amongst his cousins that were well-disposed towards him."