with arrowy ears and sharp-pointed mouths, Kaksha, Kuthimukha, Danti, and
Vijaya of great ascetic merit, and the mighty white bull of Siva roaring
deep, all wait in that mansion. Besides these many other Rakshasas and
Pisachas (devils) worship Kuvera in that assembly house. The son of
Pulastya (Kuvera) formerly used always to worship in all the modes and sit,
with permission obtained, beside the god of gods, Siva, the creator of the
three worlds, that supreme Deity surrounded by his attendants. One day the
exalted Bhava (Siva) made friendship with Kuvera. From that time, O king,
Mahadeva always sitteth on the mansion of his friend, the lord of
treasures. Those best of all jewels, those princes of all gems in the
three worlds, viz., Sankha and Padma, in their personified forms,
accompanied by all the jewels of the earth (also in their personified
forms) worship Kuvera.'

"'This delightful assembly house of Kuvera that I have seen, attached to
the firmament and capable of moving along it, is such, O king. Listen now
to the Sabha I describe unto thee, belonging to Brahma the Grandsire.'


SECTION XI

"Narada said,--'Listen to me, O child, as I tell thee of the assembly
house of the Grandsire, that house which none can describe, saying it is
such. In the Krita (golden) age of old, O king, the exalted deity Aditya
(once) came down from heaven into the world of men. Having seen before the
assembly-house of Brahma the Self-created, Aditya was cheerfully wandering
over the Earth in human form, desirous of beholding what could be seen
here. It was on that occasion, O son of Pandu, that the god of day spoke
unto me, O bull of the Bharata race, of that celestial Sabha (assembly) of
the Grandsire, immeasurable and immaterial and indescribable, as regards