rough materials) composed of jewels and gems. This was placed in the
mansion of Vrishaparva ever devoted to truth. If it be yet existing, I
shall come back, O Bharata, with it. I shall then commence the
construction of the delightful palace of the Pandavas, which is to be
adorned with every kind of gems and celebrated all over the world. There
is also, I think, O thou of the Kuru race, a fierce club placed in the
lake Vindu by the King (of the Danavas) after slaughtering therewith all
his foes in battle. Besides being heavy and strong and variegated with
golden knobs, it is capable of bearing great weight, and of slaying all
foes, and is equal in strength unto an hundred thousand clubs. It is a fit
weapon for Bhima, even as the Gandiva is for thee. There is also (in that
lake) a large conch-shell called Devadatta of loud sound, that came from
Varuna. I shall no doubt give all these to thee.' Having spoken thus unto
Partha, the Asura went away in a north-easterly direction. On the north of
Kailasa in the mountains of Mainaka, there is a huge peak of gems and
jewels called Hiranya-sringa. Near that peak is a delightful lake of the
name of Vindu. There, on its banks, previously dwelt king Bhagiratha for
many years, desiring to behold the goddess Ganga, since called Bhagirathee
after that king's name. And there, on its banks, O thou best of the
Bharatas, Indra the illustrious lord of every created thing, performed one
hundred great sacrifices. There, for the sake of beauty, though not
according to the dictates of the ordinance, were placed sacrificial stakes
made of gems and altars of gold. There, after performing those sacrifices,
the thousand-eyed lord of Sachi became crowned with success. There the
fierce Mahadeva, the eternal lord of every creature, has taken up his
abode after having created all the worlds and there he dwelleth,
worshipped with reverence by thousands of spirits. There Nara and Narayana,
Brahma and Yama and Sthanu the fifth, perform their sacrifices at the
expiration of a thousand yugas. There, for the establishment of virtue and
religion, Vasudeva, with pious devotion, performed his sacrifices