virtuous path of those rulers that had, besides, their souls under
complete control.'"

Vaisampayana continued,--"Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu, possessed of
great glory, having received with reverence the words of Narada and having
also answered the Rishi thus, reflected for a moment. And perceiving a
proper opportunity, the monarch, seated beside the Rishi, asked Narada
sitting at his ease and capable of going into every world at will, in the
presence of that assembly of kings, saying,--'Possessed of the speed of
mind, thou wanderest over various and many worlds created in days of yore
by Brahma, beholding everything. Tell me, I ask thee, if thou hast, O
Brahmana, ever beheld before anywhere an assembly room like this of mine
or superior to it!' Hearing these words of Yudhishthira the just, Narada
smilingly answered the son of Pandu in these sweet accents,--

"Narada said,--'O child, O king I did neither see nor hear of ever before
amongst men, any assembly room built of gems and precious stones like this
of thine, O Bharata. I shall, however, describe unto thee the rooms of the
king of the departed (Yama), of Varuna (Neptune) of great intelligence, of
Indra, the King of Gods and also of him who hath his home in Kailasha
(Kuvera). I shall also describe unto thee the celestial Sabha of Brahma
that dispelleth every kind of uneasiness. All these assembly rooms exhibit
in their structure both celestial and human designs and present every kind
of form that exists in the universe. And they are ever worshipped by the
gods and the Pitris, the Sadhyas, (under-deities called Gana), by ascetics
offering sacrifices, with souls under complete command, by peaceful Munis
engaged without intermission in Vedic sacrifices with presents to
Brahmanas. I shall describe all these to you if, O bull of the Bharata
race, thou hast any inclinations to listen to me!'"