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 "O child, O king I did neither see nor hear of ever beforef 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 Pitria, the Sadhyas,(under-deities called Gana), by ascetics offering sacrifices, with souls under complete command, by peaceful Munis engaged without inteimission 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 !"  —...

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 ! words of Yudhishthira the just, Narada smilingly answered the son of Pandu in these sweet accents" — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA  

"At the conclusion of Narada's words, king Yudhishthira the just worshipped him duly ; and commanded by him the monarch began to reply succinctly to the questions the Riahi had asked.Yudhishthira said 'O holy one, the truths of religion and morality thou hast indicated one after another, are just and proper. As regards myself, I duly observe those ordinances to the best of my power. Indeed, the acts that were properly performed by monarchs of yore are, without doubt, to be regarded as bearing proper fruit, and undertaken from solid reasons for the attainment of proper objects. O master, we desire to walk in the virtuous path of those rulers that had, besides, their souls under complete control" — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA

"sleep, idleness, fear, anger, weakness of mind, and procrastination Vaisampayana continued, The illustrious bull among the Kurus, having heard these words of that best of Brahmanas, bowed down unto him and worshipped his feet. And gratified with everything he heard, the monarch said unto Narada of celestial form, I shall do all that thou hast directed, for my knowledge hath expanded under thy advice !' Having said this the king acted conformably to that advice, and gained in time the whole Earth bounded by her belt of seas. Narada again spoke, saying, "That king who is thus employed in the protection of four orders, Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Sudras, passeth his days here happily and attaineth hereafter to the region of Sakra (heaven). Thus endeth the fifth section in the Lokapala Sabhakhyana Parva of the Sabha Parva." — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA

"O bull of the Bharata race, are the aphorisms relating to the science of arms, as also those that relate to the practice of engines in warfare so useful to towns and fortified places, studied in thy court ? O sinless one, art thou acquainted with all mysterious incantations, and with the secrets of poisons destructive of all foes ? Protectest thou thy kingdom from the fear of fire, of snakes and other animals destructive of life, of disease, and Rakshasas ? As acquainted thou art with every duty, cherishest thou like a father, the blind, the dumb, the lame, the deformed, the friendless, and ascetics that have no homes. Hast thou banished these six evils, O monarch" — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA

 "The great ascetic Narada, having answered Yudhishthira thus, again asked that just ruler, "Do the officers of thy government, O king, that are paid from the taxes levied on the community, take only their just dues from the merchants that come to thy territories from distant lands impelled by the desire of gain? Are the merchants, O king, treated with consideration in thy capital and kingdom, capable of bringing their goods thither without being deceived by the false pretexts of (both the buyers and the officers of government) ? Listenest thou always, O monarch, to the words, fraught with instructions in religion and wealth, of old men acquainted with economic doctrines ? Are gifts of honey and clarified butter made to the Brahmanas intended for the increase of agricultural produce, of kine, of fruits and flowers, and for the sake of virtue ? Givest thou always, O king, regularly unto all the artisans and artists employed by thee the materials of their works and their wages ...

"By these, O king, even monarchs firmly seated on their thrones are ruined. Hath thy study of the Vedas, thy wealth and knowledge of the Sastras and marriage been fruitful ? Vaisampayana continued, "After the Rishi had finished, Yudhishthira asked, "How, O Rishi, do the Vedas, wealth, wife, and knowledge of the Sastras bear fruit ?" "The Rishi answered, "The Vedas are said to bear fruit when he that hath studied them performeth the Agnihotra and other sacrifices. Wealth is said to bear fruit when he that hath it enjoyeth it himself and giveth it away in charity. A wife is said to bear fruit when she is useful and when she beareth children. Knowledge of the Sastras is said to bear fruit when it resulteth in humility and good behaviour. Vaisampayana continued" — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA

"O monarch, I hope, no well-behaved, pure-souled, and respected person is ever ruined and his life taken, on a false charge or theft, by thy ministers ignorant of Sastras and acting from greed ? And, O bull among men, I hope thy ministers never from covetousness set free a real thief, knowing him to be such and having apprehended him with the booty about him ? O Bharata, I hope, thy ministers are never won over by bribes, nor do they wrongly decide the disputes that arise between the rich and the poor. Dost thou keep thyself free from the fourteen vices of kings, viz., atheism, untruthfulness, anger, incautiousness, procrastination, non-visit to the wise, idleness, restlessness of mind, taking counsels with only one man, consultation with persons unacquainted with the science of profit, abandonment of a settled plan, divulgence of counsels, non-accomplishment of beneficial projects, and undertaking everything without reflection ?" — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA...

 "Dost thou, with passions under complete control and with singleness of mind, strive to perform the sacrifices called Vajapeya and Pundarika with their full complement of rites? Bowest thou unto thy relatives and superiors, the aged, the gods, the ascetics, the Brahmanas, and the tall trees (banian) in villages, that are of so much benefit to people ? O sinless one, causest thou ever grief or anger in any one ? Do priests capable of granting thee auspicious fruits ever stand by thy side ? O sinless one, are thy inclinations and practices such as I have described them, and as always enhance the duration of life and spread one's renown and as always help the cause of religion, pleasure, and profit ? He who conducteth himself according to this way, never findeth his kingaom distressed or afflicted ; and that monarch, subjugating the whole earth, enjoyeth a high degree of felicity." — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA

 I hope that the physicians engaged in looking after thy health are all well conversant with the eight kinds of treatment and are all attached and devoted to thee- Happeneth it ever, O monarch, that from covetousness or folly or pride thoufailest to decide between the plaintiff and the defendant who have come to thee ? Deprivest thou, through covetousness or folly, of their pensions the proteges who have sought thy shelter from trustfulness or love ? Do the people that inhabit thy realm, bought by thy foes, ever seek to raise disputes with thee, uniting themselves with one another ? Are those amongst thy foes that are feeble always repressed by the help of troops that are strong, by the help of both counsels and troops ? Are all the principal chieftains (of thy empire) all devoted to thee ? Are they ready to lay down their lives for thy sake, commanded by thee ? Dost thou worship Brahmanas and wise men according to their merits in respect of various branches of learning ? I tell th...

 "O king, do the five brave and wise men, employed in the five offices of protecting the city, the citadel, the merchants, and the agriculturists, and punishing the criminals, always benefit thy kingdom by working in union with one another ? For the protection of thy city, have the villages been made like towns, and the hamlets and outskirts of villages like villages ? Are all these entirely under thy supervision and sway ? Are thieves and robbers that sack thy town pursued by thy police over the even and uneven parts of thy kingdom ? Consolest thou women and are they protected in thy realm ? I hope thou placest not any confidence in them, nor divulgest any secret before any of them ? O monarch, having heard of any danger and having reflected on it also, liest thou in the inner apartments enjoying every agreeable object ? Having slept during the second and the third divisions of the night, thinkest thou of religion and profit in the fourth division wakefully. O son of Pandu, risin...

 "Are large tanks and lakes constructed all over thy kingdom at proper distances, without agriculture being in thy realm entirely dependent on the showers of heaven ? Are the agriculturists in thy kingdom wanting in either seed or food ? Grantest thou with kindness loans (of seed-grains) unto the tillers, taking only a fourth in excess of every measure by the hundred ? O child, are the four professions of agriculture, trade, cattle-rearing, and lending at interest, carried on by honest men ? Upon these, O monarch, depends the happiness of thy people." — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA

"I hope, O king, thy treasury, barns, stables, arsenals, and women's apartments, are all protected by servants devoted to thee and ever seeking thy welfare. 1 hope, O monarch, thou protectest first thyself from thy domestic and public servants, then from those servants of thy relatives and from one another. Do thy servants, O king, ever speak to thee in the forenoon regarding thy extravagant expenditure in respect of thy drinks, sports, and women ? Is thy expenditure always covered by a fourth, a third or a half of thy income ? Cherishest thou always, with food and wealth, relatives, superiors, merchants, the aged, and other proteges, and the distressed ? Do the accountants and clerks employed by thee in looking after thy income and expenditure, always appraise thee every day in the forenoon of thy income and expenditure ? Dismissest thou without fault servants accomplished in business and popular and devoted to thy welfare ? O Bharata, dost thou employ superior, indifferent, ...

 Dost thou support, O bull in the Bharata race, the wives and children of men that have given their lives for thee and have been distressed on thy account ? Cherishest thou, O son of Pritha, with paternal affection the foe that hath been weakened, or him also that hath sought thy shelter, having been vanquished in battle ? O lord of Earth, art thou equal unto all men, and can every one approach thee without fear, as if thou wert their mother and father ? And O bull of the Bharata race, marchest thou, without loss of time, and reflecting well upon three kinds of forces, against thy foe when thou hearest that he is in distress ? O subjugator of all foes beginnest thou thy march when the time cometh, having taken into consideration all the omens you might see, the resolutions thou hast made, and that the ultimate victory depends upon the twelve mandates (such as reserves, ambuscades, &c, and payment of pay to the troops in advance) ? And, O persecutor of all foes, givest thou gems...

"Are thy forts always filled with treasure, food, weapons, water, engines and instruments, as also with engineers and bowmen ? Even a single minister that is intelligent, brave, with his passions under complete control, and possessed of wisdom and judgment, is capable of conferring the highest prosperity on a king or a king's son. I ask thee, therefore, whether there is even one such minister with thee ? Seekest thou to know everything about the eighteen Tirthas of the foe and fifteen of thy own by means of three and three spies all unacquainted with one another ? O slayer of all foes, watchest thou all thy enemies with care and attention, and unknown to them ? Is the priest thou honourest, possessed of humility! and purity of blood, and renown, and without jealousy and illiberally ? Hath any well-behaved, intelligent, and guileless Brahmana, well-up in the ordinance, been employed by thee in the performance of thy daily rites before the sacred fire, and doth he remind thee in...

 "O child, is thy kingdom protected by ministers learned in Sastras, keeping their counsels close ? Are thy foes unable to injure it ? Thou hast not become the slave of sleep ? Wakest thou at the proper time ? Conversant with pursuits yielding profit, thinkest thou, during the small hours of night, as to what thoushouldst do and what thou shouldst not do the next day ? Thou settlest nothing alone, nor takest counsels with many? The counsels thou hast resolved upon, do not become known all over thy kingdom ? Commencest thou soon to accomplish measures of great utility that are easy of accomplishment ? Such measures are never obstructed ? Keepest thou the agriculturists not out of thy sight ? They do not fear to approach thee ? Achievest thou thy measures through persons that are trusted incorruptible, and possessed of practical experience ? And, O brave king, I hope, people only know the measures already accomplished by thee and those that have been partially accomplished and are a...

Thy counsels, I hope, are never divulged by thy trusted spies in disguise, by thyself or by thy ministers ? Thou ascertainest, I hope, what thy friends, foes and strangers 'are about ? Makest thou peace and makest thou war at proper times? Observest thou neutrality towards strangers and persons that are neutral towards thee ? And, O hero, hast thou made persons like thyself, persons that are old, continent in behaviour, capable of understanding what should be done and what should not, pure as ragards birth and blood, and devoted to thee, thy ministers ? O Bharata, the victories o'f kings can be attributed to good counsels. — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA

 Thy counsels, I hope, are never divulged by thy trusted spies in disguise, by thyself or by thy ministers ? Thou ascertainest, I hope, what thy friends, foes and strangers 'are about ? Makest thou peace and makest thou war at proper times? Observest thou neutrality towards strangers and persons that are neutral towards thee ? And, O hero, hast thou made persons like thyself, persons that are old, continent in behaviour, capable of understanding what should be done and what should not, pure as ragards birth and blood, and devoted to thee, thy ministers ? O Bharata, the victories o'f kings can be attributed to good counsels. O child, is thy kingdom protected by ministers learned in Sastras, keeping their counsels close ? Are thy foes unable to injure it ? Thou hast not become the slave of sleep ? Wakest thou at the proper time ? Conversant with pursuits yielding profit, thinkest thou, during the small hours of night, as to what thoushouldst do and what thou shouldst not do the n...

"Is the wealth thou art earning being spent on proper objects ? Doth thy mind take pleasure in virtue ? Art thou enjoying the pleasures of life ? Doth not thy mind sink under their weight ? O chief of men, continuest thou in the noble conduct consistent with religion and wealth practised by thy ancestors towards the three classes of subjects, (viz., good, indifferent, and bad) ? Never injurest thou religion for the sake of wealth, or both religion and wealth for the sake of pleasure that easily seduces ? O thou foremost of victorious men ever devoted to the good of all, conversant as thou artwith the timeliness of everything, followest thou religion, wealth, pleasure and salvation dividing thy time judiciously ? O sinless one, with the six attributes of kings (viz., cleverness of speech, readiness in providing means, intelligence in dealing with the foe, memory, and acquaintance with morals and politics), dost thou attend to the seven means (viz., sowing dissensions, chastisement,...

  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 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. "  — THE MAHABHARATA OF KRISHNA-DWAIPAYANA VYASA TRANSLATE BY SABHA PARVA AND VANA PARVA