Yudhishthira said O best of eloquent men, O lord, from your descriptions it appears that all the monarchs (of the earth) are in the Sabha of the son of Vaivasvata (Yama).

O lord, you have said that in the Varuna's Sabha are the Nagas, the chief Daityas, the rivers, and the oceans,

And in that of the lord of wealth (Kubera) the Yakshas, Guhyakas, Guhyakas, Rakshasas, Gandharvas, Apsaras, and the exalted Vishvadeva (Shiva).

You have said that in the Sabha of the Grandsire are the great Rishis, all the celestials, and all the Shastras.

O Rishi, you have said that in the Sabha of Shakra (Indra) are the celestials, the Gandharvas and the various great Rishis.

O great Rishi, you have said that one king namely the royal sage Harishchandra, is in the Sabha of the illustrious lord of the celestials.

What act, what asceticism, what steady vows were performed by that greatly famous (king) that he has alone become equal to Indra? are

O Brahmana, how did you meet with my father, the illustrious Pandu, now living in the region of the Pitris?

O exalted one, O Rishi of excellent vows, what did he tell you? Tell me all. I am filled with great curiosity to hear all this.

Narada said O king of kings, O lord, I shall tell you all about the greatness of the greatly intelligent Harishchandra which you ask me to narrate.

That king (Harishchandra) was very powerful and an Emperor over all the monarchs of the earth. All the kings of the world were under his sway.

O king of men, riding alone on his car adorned with gold, he conquered all the seven islands (of the world) by the prowess of his weapons.

O great king, having conquered the whole of the earth with her mountains, forests and woods, he made preparation to perform a great Rajasuya sacrifice.

All the monarchs at his command brought wealth to that sacrifice. They became the distributors of food to the Brahmanas in that sacrifice.

The king (Harishchandra) in that sacrifice cheerfully gave away to the sacrificial Brahmanas wealth five times more than what each asked.

At the conclusion of the sacrifice, the king gratified the Brahmanas that assembled there from various quarters with large presents of various kinds of wealth.

Having been gratified by various kinds of food and enjoyable things given to them to their fill and by the heaps of jewels distributed amongst them, the Brahmanas said: “The king Harishchandra has became superior to all the kings in energy and in renown".

O king, O best of the Bharata race, know that for this reason, Harishchandra has shone more brightly than thousands of other kings.

O king, having concluded his great sacrifice, the mighty Harishchandra, being installed in his Empire, looked resplendent.

O best of the Bharata race, all the kings that perform the great Rajasuya sacrifices pass their time in bliss in company with Indra.

O best of the Bharata race, those kings, that give their lives on the field of battle without turning their backs, go to the abode (of Indra) and pass their time in felicity.

Those also that give up their lives after undergoing severe ascetic penances go to the same region and shine brightly there for ages.

O son of Kunti, O descendant of Kuru, seeing the good fortune of Harishchandra and being much astonished at it, your father Pandu has told you something (through me).

O king of men, knowing that I was coming to the world of men, he bowed to me and said, "Tell this to Yudhishthira,

That he can subjugate the whole earth as his brothers are obedient to him". O descendant of Bharata, he said, “Let him perform the great Rajasuya sacrifice.

He is my son, if he performs that sacrifice, I can go like Harishchandra to the region of Indra and pass my time there in everlasting bliss in company with Indra in his Sabha."

O king, I told him thus (in reply), “If I go to the world of men, I shall speak to your son." I have told you what Pandu told me.

O best of men, O son of Pandu, accomplish then the intentions of your father. If you do this, you will go with your ancestors to the region of Indra.

O king, it is said that this sacrifice is full of many obstacles. The Brahma Rakshasas who always harm sacrifices search for holes when this sacrifice is begun.

On the commencement of such a sacrifice a war may break out which may destroy the Kshatriyas, and which may be the cause of the total destruction of the whole world. A slight obstacle (to it) may cause the ruin of the whole earth.

O king of kings, reflecting on all this, do what is beneficial to you. Be always watchful in protecting the four orders (of your subjects).

Grow in prosperity, enjoy felicity gratify the Brahmans with wealth. I have thus answered in detail all that you have asked me. With your permission, I shall now go towards the city of the Dasharahas (Dwarka).

Vaishampayana said O Janamejaya, O king, having said this to the son of Pritha, Narada went away with those Rishis with whom he had come.

O descendants of Kuru, on the departure of Narada, the King (Yudhishthira), the son of Pritha, began to think with his brothers (how to perform) that best of sacrifice Rajasuya.