1876.] 



at Delhi three thousand years ago. 



377 



their time in entertaining conversation, in witnessing charming dances, and 

 in listening to sweet music. The hum of Brahmans, full to satiety, 'fond 

 of stories, and jubilant with delight, resounded every where. " Give away, 

 and eat away" were the words which burst forth from every side. The' 

 virtuous king provided for each of his guests thousands of cows, bedding, 

 gold, and damsels. Thus did the ceremony progress of the unrivalled 

 and virtuous sovereign of the earth, the great Pandava, who was like 

 unto Indra, the lord of the immortals."* The provision of damsels for 

 the service of Brahman guests, reveals a curious feature in the manners, 

 customs, and morality of the time under notice. 



The list of crowned heads which assembled at the ceremony is a long 

 one, but as it includes mostly the names of those who were subjugated by 

 the brothers of Yudhishthira, and of the friends and relatives of the host, 

 it is not necessary to reproduce it here. The leading chiefs of the Kaurava 

 and the Yadava tribes were the most prominent among the guests. " To 

 the guests were assigned dwellings replete with refreshments of every kind, 

 and having by them charming lakes, and ranges of ornamental plants. 

 The son of Dharma welcomed them in due form. After the reception, the 

 princes repaired to the several houses assigned for their accommodation. 

 Those houses were lofty as the peaks of the Kailasa mountain, most 

 charming in appearance, and provided with excellent furniture. They were 

 surrounded by well-built high walls of a white colour. The windows 

 were protected by golden lattices, and decorated with a profusion of jewel- 

 lery. The stairs were easy of ascent ; the rooms were furnished with 

 commodious seats and clothing and garlands ; and the whole was redolent 

 with the perfume of the finest agallochum. The houses were white as 

 the goose, bright as the moon, and looked picturesque even from a distance 

 oi four miles. They were free from obstructions, provided with doors of 

 uniform height, but of various quality, and inlaid with numerous metal 

 ornaments, even as the peak of the Himalaya. The princes were refreshed 

 by the very sight of the mansions, "f 



With a view to prevent disorder, and to enforce discipline and the 

 due despatch of business, Yudhishthira so arranged that each department 

 of the ceremony should be placed under one of his principal relatives, or of 

 a friend. To see to the proper distribution of food was the task assigned 

 to Duhsasana, brother of Duryodhana. To Asvathama, " a warrior Brah- 

 man of saintly descent," was assigned the duty of attending to the recep- 

 tion and entertainment of Brahmans, and to Sanjaya the same duty with 

 reference to the regal and military guests. The venerable old chief Bhish- 

 ma and the equally venerable chief Drona were solicited to act as superin- 



* Mahabharata, Book II, chapter 32. 



t Ibid., chapter 33. 



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