The region selected for the purpose, O chief of Bharata's race, was perfectly level and auspicious. There the king pitched his camp, placing in his van such Brahmanas as were gifted with penances and learning and selfcontrol, as also his priest Agniveshya, O you of Kurus' race, who was well-conversant with the Vedas and all their branches. Then the royal sons of Pandu, and the other kings, and the Brahmanas and priests well-skilled in sacrificial rites, having duly performed same propitiatory ceremonies, spread themselves all over that spot. Having duly placed the king and his ministers in the middle, the Brahinanas caused the camp to be pitched by laying out six roads and nine divisions. King Yudhishthira caused a separate encampment to be duly made for the infuriate elephants who accompanied his army. When everything was complete, he addressed the Brahmanas, saying, You foremost of Brahmanas, do that which you think should be done in view of the matter at hand. Indeed, let an auspicious day and constellation be fixed for it. Let not a long time pass away over our heads as we wait in suspense here. You foremost of learned Brahmanas, having formed this resolution, do what should be done after this! Hearing these words of the king, the Brahmanas with those amongst them who were well-skilled in the performance of religious rites, became filled with gladness and desirous of doing that was agrecable to king Yudhishthira the just, said these words in reply, This very day is an auspicious one with a auspicious constellation. We shall, therefore, try to celebrate those high rites we propose. We shall today, O king, live upon water alone. Do you all fast also today.
शिवे देशे समे चैव तदा भरतसत्तम॥ अग्रतो ब्राह्मणान् कृत्वा तपोविद्यादमान्वितान्। पुरोहितं च कौरव्य वेदवेदाङ्गपारगम्। आग्निवेश्यं च राजानो ब्राह्मणा: सपुरोधसः॥ कृत्वा शान्तिं यथान्यायं सर्वशः पर्यवारयन्। कृत्वा तु मध्ये राजानममात्यांश्च यथाविधि॥ षट्पदं नवसंख्यानं निवेशं चक्रिरे द्विजाः। मत्तानां वारणेन्द्राणां निवेशं च यथाविधि॥ कारयित्वा स राजेन्द्रो ब्राह्मणनिदमब्रवीत्। अस्मिन् कार्ये द्विजश्रेष्ठा नक्षत्रे दिवसे शुभे॥ यथा भवन्तो मन्यन्ते कर्तुमर्हन्ति तत् तथा। न न: कालात्ययो वै स्यादिहैव परिलम्बताम्॥ इति निश्चित्य विप्रेन्द्राः क्रियतां यदनन्तरम् श्रुत्वैतद् वचनं राज्ञो ब्राह्मणाः सपुरोधसः। इदमूचुर्वचो हृष्टा धर्मराजप्रियेप्सवः॥ अद्यैव नक्षत्रमहश्च पुण्यं यतामहे श्रेष्ठतमक्रियासु। नुपोष्यतां चापि भवद्भिरद्य॥