Sabhakriya Parva — Entry to the assembly-hall

Vaishampayana said Having fed thousands of Brahmanas with sweetened milk mixed with rice, honey and Ghee, with fruits and roots and with the meat of boar and deer the ruler of men king Yudhishthira entered into it (the palace). With food seasoned with sesame, with Tabanti (a sort of vegetable), with rice mixed with Ghee.

With the various preparations of meat, with various kinds of other food, with various suckable and drinkable viands, with unused robes and clothes, and with excellent garlands, the king gratified the superior Brahmanas that had assembled there from various directions.

He also gave them each one thousand kine. O descendant of Bharata, their cry of “What an auspicious day" rose to the sky.

Having worshipped the gods with various kinds of music and with numerous sorts of costly perfumes, that best of the Kurus (Yudhishthira) entered (the hall).

The athletes, actors, prize-fighter bards and praise-singers exhibited their skill to amuse the illustrious son of Dharma (Yudhishthira).

Having thus performed many ceremonies, the Pandava (Yudhishthira) with his brothers sported in that charming assembly hall as Shakra (Indra) in heaven.

On the seats in that assembly-hall sat with the Pandavas the Rishis and the kings that came from various countries.

Asita, Devala, Satya, Sarpamali, Mahashira, Arvavasa, Sumitra, Maitreya, Shunaka, Bali, Baka, Dalbhya, Sthulashira, Krishna Dvaipayana, Shuka, Sumanta, Gemini, Paila, the pupils of Vyasa, namely ourselves, Tittri, Yajnavalkya, Lomaharsana with his on, Apsuhomya, Dhaumya, Animandavya, Kaushika, Damoshnisha, Traibali, Parnada, Varajanuka, Maunjayana, Vayubhaksha, Parasarya, Sarika, Balivaka, Sinivaka, Satyapala, Kritashrama, Jatukarna, Shikhavana, Alamba, Parijataka, the high-souled Parvata, the great Rishi Markandeya, Pavitrapani, Savarma, Bhaluki, Galava, Janghabandhu, Raibhya, Kopavega, Bhrigu, Haribabhru, Kaundinya, Babhrumali, Sanatana, Kakshivana, Aushija, Nachiketa, Gautama, Painga, Varaha, greatly ascetic Shandilya, Kukkura, Venujangha, Kalapa and Katha. All were Rishis of great virtue and learning with their souls under complete control and passions under complete subjugation.

These and many others, as numerous as the above, all learned in the Vedas and the Vedangas, conversant with all moralities, all pure and spotless in conduct, waited upon the illustrious (king) and pleased him with their sacred discourses. Many chief Kshatriyas also waited upon Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira).

The fortunate and virtuous Munjaketu, Vivardhana Sangramjit Durmukha, the powerful Ugrasena, Kakshasena, the lord of the Earth, the invincible Kshemaka, the king of Kamboja, Kamatha the mighty Kampana who made the javanas tremble at his name as the wielder of thunder Indra made the Asuras Kalkeyas tremble at his name.

Jatasura, the king of the Madrakas, Kunti, the king of the Kiratas, Pulinda, the kings of Anga and Banga, Pundraka and Pandya, the king of Udhara and Andhaka, Sumitra, the slayer of foes Shaivya, the king of the Kiratas, Sumana, the king of the Yavanas Chanur, Devarata, Bhoja, Bhimaratha, the king of Kalinga, Shrutayudha, the king of Magadha, Jayasena, Sukarman, Chekitana, that slayer of foes Puru, Ketumana, Vasudana, Videha, Kritakshana, Sudharma, Aniruddha, the greatly strong Shrutayu, the invincible Anuparaja, the handsome Kramajit, Sisupala with his son, the king of Karusha, the invincible and celestialslike young heroes of the Vrishni race, namely Ahuka, Viprithu, Gada, Sarana, Akrura, Kritavarman, the son of Sini, Satyaka, Bhishmaka, Akriti, the powerful Dyumtsena, those chiefs of bow men, the Kaikeyas and Yajnasena of the Somaka race.

These greatly powerful and all well-armed and wealthy, Ketuman and Vasumana and many other Kshatriya, as numerous as the above, and all considered to be the foremost (men among the Kshatriyas waited on that assembly-hall upon the son of Kunti Yudhishthira. O king, those powerful princes that learnt science of arms from Arjuna, dressing themselves in deer skins, and those princes of the Vrishni race,

Namely, the son of Rukmani (Pradyumna), Samba, Yuyudhana, the son of Satyaka (Satyaki), Sudharmana, Anirudha, Shaivya, these foremost of men (all waited upon Yudhishthira).

O lord of the earth, these and many other kings, (waited upon Yudhishthira) the friend of Dhananjaya (Arjuna) Tumbaru, Chitrasena with his ministers, and many other Gandharvas and Apsaras, all well-skilled in singing and playing music, and expert in cadence, and also the Kinnaras, well-skilled in measures and motions, all at the command of Tumbaru waited upon and amused the sons of Pandu and so did also the Rishis (that were present there) by singing celestials songs in proper and charming voice. Those best of men, those best of men, those men of rigid vows, those men with heart devoted to truth all waited upon Yudhishthira, as the celestials wait upon Brahma in heaven.