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Mahābhārata The History of the Great India
<< 117 The Astonishing Royal Hall >>
 |  | The Pandavas receive as a gift an assembly
hall that rivals even Lord Krsna's. The sage Vaisampayana is telling the history of the Pandavas to their great-grandson, King Janamejaya. As the narration continues, Lord Krsna and Arjuna have guarded the Khandava Forest so that Agni, the fire-god, could consume it and all the creatures within it. Agni thus devoured the forest. Only the Danava [see "Characters"] named Maya survived, because he had taken shelter of Arjuna.
| | | In the presence of Lord Krsna, Maya honored Arjuna again and again with folded hands and gentle words.
| | | "My dear Arjuna," Maya said finally, "you saved me from Lord Krsna's fury and the flames of the fire-god, although he was eager to burn me. Tell me, what can I do for you in return?"
| | | Arjuna said, "O great Asura, you have done all that is necessary. Always be a kind friend to me, as I am to you."
| | | Maya said, "O best of men, O mighty one, your words are worthy of your stature. And yet, Bharata, I wish to do something to show my love for you. I am the Visvakarma of the Danavas, for my skill is vast, and it is my special desire to build something for you, O Pandava."
| | | Arjuna said, "You feel I am the one who saved you when your life was in danger, but it is improper for me to ask something in return. At the same time, O Danava, I do not wish to frustrate your earnest wish. So do something for Lord Krsna, and that will be your way of thanking me."
| | | Maya then urged Sri Krsna to make a request, and for a moment the Lord thought, "What shall I ask of him?"
| | | Then Sri Krsna said, "O Daiteya, construct an assembly hall that you consider appropriate for King Yudhisthira's earthly reign. Erect such a congress hall that all who see it in the world of man will be amazed and no one will be able to build one like it. Build the royal edifice so that we may behold in it the most clever designs of the gods, Asuras, and human beings."
| | | Maya accepted the instruction with deep satisfaction, and he happily decided to build for the Pandava king a parliament hall that would resemble a large celestial spacecraft.
| | | Lord Krsna and Arjuna then precisely explained to King Yudhisthira all that had happened at the Khandava Forest and presented to him the skillful Maya. Yudhisthira properly honored Maya, who accepted the reception, respectfully honoring the king in return. O Bharata, the master craftsman of the Daityas then narrated to the sons of Pandu many ancient stories of the gods. Then, after catching his breath and thinking deeply on his project, Maya began to build the assembly hall for the exalted sons of Pandu.
| | | According to the wish of Prtha's sons and the great soul Krsna, the mighty Maya commenced his labor with an auspicious ceremony held on a sacred day. On that occasion the powerful Daitya designer satisfied brahmanas by the thousands with offerings of sweet rice and varieties of valuable gifts. He then measured out a charming terrain approximately 12,000 feet all around and rich with the beauty of all seasons.
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