Maya offers to repay Arjuna and Krishna for saving his life
Saved from certain death by Arjuna, the divine architect Maya insists on repaying the debt. Arjuna declines any personal favor but, not wishing to obstruct Maya's resolution, suggests he do something for Krishna instead. Krishna, after a moment's thought, gives the architect a monumental task.
Maya stood before Krishna and Arjuna, his hands joined in respect. He had been moments from death — first from Krishna's wrath, then from a fire that sought to consume him — and Arjuna had intervened. Now, speaking in flattering words, he addressed the Pandava. "O Kounteya! You have saved me. Please tell me what I can do for you."
Arjuna's reply was characteristically selfless. "O great asura! You have done everything. You can leave in peace. May we always be friendly towards each other."
But Maya pressed. "What you have said is deserving of you. But as a token of my affection, I wish to do something. I am extremely wise, the Vishvakarma of the danavas (demons). Therefore, I wish to do something for you."
Arjuna understood the weight of a debt. "You think that I have saved your life. If that is the case, I cannot ask you for anything. But I do not wish to stand in the way of your resolution either. Therefore, do something for Krishna. That will be tantamount to doing something for me."
Thus urged, Vasudeva thought for an instant. Then he spoke. "O Daitya! Build a wonderful assembly hall for Dharmaraja Yudhishthira — one you think worthy of him. Build it so that no one in the world of men can construct its equal, even as they gaze at it amazed. O Maya! Build an assembly hall in which we will see the designs of the gods, the asuras, and humans."
Hearing these words, Maya was delighted. He immediately began to draw up a design for an assembly hall for the Pandavas — a hall like a celestial vimana (divine chariot).