Vaishampayana said: -
1. O king, having approached and worshipped his grandfather (Bhishma) and his preceptor (Drona), Yudhishthira thus spoke to,
2. Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, the son of Drona (Ashvathama), Duryodhana and Vivanshati. “But all of you gracious to me in my this sacrifice.
3. All this my great wealth is yours. Consult you all with one another, and guide me as you desire.”
4. Having thus spoken to all, the eldest of the Pandavas (Yudhishthira), who had been already installed in the sacrifice, appointed every one of them in suitable office.
5. He appointed Dushasana to superintend the department of food and other enjoyable articles. Ashvathama was solicited to look after the Brahmanas.
6. Sanjaya was appointed to return worship to all (invited kings). The high-minded Bhishma and Drona were employed to see what was done and what was left undone.
7. The king (Yudhishthira) appointed Kripa to look after the diamonds, the gold the pearls and the gems, and he was also appointed to distribute Dakshina (gift) to the Brahmanas.
8. Thus other best of men were all appointed in various other offices. Having been brought there by Nakula, Valhika, Dhritarashtra, Somadatta, and Jayadratha enjoyed there as the lords (of the sacrifice).
9Khattwa (Vidura), learned in all the precepts of virtue, became the master of exchequer. Duryodhana became the receiver of tributes brought by the kings.
10. Krishna, the centre of all men, with the desire of gaining the excellent fruit, him-self willingly took the task of washing the feet of the Brahmanas.
11. Wishing to see that Sabha and also Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, no one came there with less tribute than one thousand (in kind number of quantity).
12-15. All (the assembled kings) honoured Dharmaraja with large presents of jewels. Every one of those kings proudly said, “Let the Kuru king complete his sacrifice with the gems and wealth that I present to him, (without taking any presents from any other king)”. O king, the sacrificial ground of the illustrious son of Kunti, crowded with guards and warriors, with the cars of the celestialss and with the kings, all possessing beauty and wealth, looked extremely handsome with the numerous palaces, so built as to last for ever, and so high that their tops touched the car of the celestialss who came to see that sacrifice, with the dwellings of the Brahmanas, and the mansions that were built for the king which resembled the cars of the celestialss, and adorned with gems and filled with every king of wealth.
16. Yudhishthira, as if vying with the deity Varuna himself in wealth, commenced the (Rajasuya) sacrifice which was distinguished by large Dakshinas to Brahmanas and emblazoned with the six fires.
17. The king gratified every body with present of great value and with every object that one could desire, with abundance of rice and of every kind of food, and also with a large quantity of jewels brought as tribute. Every one of that vast concourse of people was fed to his fill.
18. The celestialss were gratified in that sacrifice by the Ida, Ghee, Homa and libations poured by the great Rishis, learned in Mantras and pronunciations.
19. Like the celestialss, the Brahmanas were also gratified with the sacrificial gifts, food and great wealth. Men of all the orders were gratified and were filled with joy.
Thus ends the thirty-fifth chapter, the commencement of the sacrifice in the Rajsuyika of the Sabha Parva.