traders of different classes came to pay him the taxes leviable on their
respective occupations. And accordingly during the reign of Yudhishthira
who was ever devoted to virtue, his dominion grew in prosperity. Indeed,
the prosperity of the kingdom was increased not by these alone but even by
persons wedded to voluptuousness and indulging in all luxuries to their
fill. And the king of kings, Yudhishthira, whose sway extended over all,
was possessed of every accomplishment and bore everything with patience.
And, O king, whatever countries the celebrated and illustrious monarch
conquered, the people everywhere, from Brahmanas to swains, were all more
attached to him than to their own fathers and mothers."

Vaisampayana said,--"King Yudhishthira, then, that foremost of speakers,
summoning together his counsellors and brothers, asked them repeatedly
about the Rajasuya sacrifice. Those ministers in a body, thus asked by the
wise Yudhishthira desirous of performing the sacrifice, then told him
these words of grave import,--'One already in possession of a kingdom
desireth all the attributes of an emperor by means of that sacrifice which
aideth a king in acquiring the attributes of Varuna. O prince of Kuru race,
thy friends think that as thou art worthy of the attributes of an emperor,
the time is even come for thee for the performance of the Rajasuya
sacrifice. The time for the performance of that sacrifice in which Rishis
of austere vows kindle six fires with mantras of the Sama Veda, is come
for thee in consequence of thy Kshatriya possessions. At the conclusion of
the Rajasuya sacrifice when the performer is installed in the sovereignty
of the empire, he is rewarded with the fruits of all sacrifices including
the Agnihotra. It is for this that he is called the conqueror of all. Thou
art quite able, O strong-armed one, to perform this sacrifice. All of us
are obedient to thee. Soon will you be able, O great king, to perform the
Rajasuya sacrifice. Therefore, O great king, let thy resolution be taken
to perform this sacrifice without further discussion.' Thus spoke unto the