extending for many, many long years. There were placed by Keshava
thousands and tens of thousands of sacrificial stakes adorned with golden
garlands and altars of great splendour. Going thither, O Bharata, Maya
brought back the club and the conch-shell and the various crystalline
articles that had belonged to king Vrishaparva. And the great Asura, Maya,
having gone thither, possessed himself of the whole of the great wealth
which was guarded by Yakshas and Rakshasas. Bringing them, the Asura
constructed therewith a peerless palace, which was of great beauty and of
celestial make, composed entirely of gems and precious stones, and
celebrated throughout the three worlds. He gave unto Bhimasena that best
of clubs, and unto Arjuna the most excellent conch-shell at whose sound
all creatures trembled in awe. And the palace that Maya built consisted of
columns of gold, and occupied, O monarch, an area of five thousand cubits.
The palace, possessing an exceedingly beautiful form, like unto that of
Agni or Suryya, or Soma, shone in great splendour, and by its brilliance
seemed to darken even the bright rays of the sun. And with the effulgence
it exhibited, which was a mixture of both celestial and terrestrial light,
it looked as if it was on fire. Like unto a mass of new clouds conspicuous
in the sky, the palace rose up coming into view of all. Indeed, the palace
that the dexterous Maya built was so wide, delightful, and refreshing, and
composed of such excellent materials, and furnished with such golden walls
and archways, and adorned with so many varied pictures, and was withal so
rich and well-built, that in beauty it far surpassed Sudharma of the
Dasarha race, or the mansion of Brahma himself. And eight thousand
Rakshasas called Kinkaras, fierce, huge-bodied and endued with great
strength, of red coppery eyes and arrowy ears, well-armed and capable of
ranging through the air, used to guard and protect that palace. Within
that palace Maya placed a peerless tank, and in that tank were lotuses
with leaves of dark-coloured gems and stalks of bright jewels, and other
flowers also of golden leaves. And aquatic fowls of various species