Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/486

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472
MAHABHARATA

a thousand eyes. And as regards the mass of the celestials and the Rishis, they turned their faces towards all directions as Tilottama walked round them. Excepting the divine Grandsire bimself, the glances of those illustrious personages, even of all of them fell upon Tilottama's body. And when Tilottama set out (for the city of the Asuras) beholding the wealth of her beauty, regarded the task as already accomplished. After Tilottama bad gone away, the great god who was the First Cause of the Universe, dismissed all the celestials and the Rishis."

Thus ends the two hundred and thirteenth section in the Rajya-labha Parva of the Aji Parva.

SECTION CCXIV

(Rajya.labha Parva Continued)

"Narada continued,-Meanwhile the Asura brothers having subjugated the Earth were without a rival. The fatigue of exertion gone. they, having brought the three worlds under equal sway, regarded themselves as persons that had nothing more to do. Having brought all the treasures of the gods, the Gandharvas, the Yakshas, the Nagas, Rakshasas, and the kings of the Earth, the brothers began to pass their days in great happiness. When they saw they had no rivals (in the three worlds), they gave up all exertion and devoted their time to pleasure and merriment, like the celestials. They experienced great happi. ness by giving themselves up to every kind of enjoyment, such as wo. men, and perfumes and floral wreaths and viands, and drinks and many other agreeable objects all in profusion. In houses and woods and gardens, on hills and in forests, wherever they liked they passed their time in pleasure and amusement, like the immortals. And it so happened that one day they went for purposes of pleasure to a table-land of the Vindhya range, perfectly level and stony. and overgrown with blossoming trees. After every object of desire, all the most agreeable kind, had been brought, the brothers sat on an excellent seat, with happy hearts and accompanied by handsome women. And those damsels, desirous of pleasing the brothers, commenced a dance in accompaniment to music, and sweetly chanted many a song in praise of the mighty pair.'

"Meanwhile Tilottama attired in a single piece of red silk that exposed all her charms, came along. plucking wild flowers on her way. She advanced slowly to where those mighty Asuras were gathering as she walked kamikaras from the trees that grew along the river-side,