03.118
Vaiśampāyana said.
As he went to sacred places, the noble king saw all the auspicious and beautiful spots, adorned by brahmins here and there, O Bhārata, along the ocean. (03-118-1)
Having completed his duties among them and performed the anointing ceremony, the son of Pāṇḍu, descendant of Parīkṣit, together with his younger brothers, went to the most sacred and praised river flowing to the ocean. (03-118-2)
There, too, after bathing, the great-souled one satisfied the ancestors and the gods. He distributed wealth among the foremost of the twice-born and went to the Godāvarī, which flows to the sea. (03-118-3)
Then the sinless king, having reached the ocean and the renowned holy places of the earth, saw Agastya's pure and sacred water-site, as well as the women's sacred bathing-places; thus the hero beheld them. (03-118-4)
There, Arjuna, the foremost wielder of the bow, having heard of his deed which others could not bear, and as he was being honored by assemblies of supreme sages, the son of Pandu attained supreme joy. (03-118-5)
He, with his body anointed in those sacred places, accompanied by Kṛṣṇa and his younger brothers, honoring Arjuna's valor, the king of kings enjoyed life on the earth. (03-118-6)
Then, after donating thousands of cows at those holy places of Ambudharottama, delighted, he, along with Arjuna’s brothers, celebrated the act of giving cows. (03-118-7)
He, O king, traveling in order through those holy places of the ocean and many other meritorious sites, saw the most holy Śūrparaka, his desires fulfilled. (03-118-8)
There, having crossed a certain region near the ocean—famous throughout the earth—he reached a forest, where austerities were once practiced by the gods, a place likewise destined by the most virtuous of kings. (03-118-9)
There he, having long and stout arms, saw that altar belonging to the chief bow-holder, the son of Ṛcīka, which was surrounded by groups of ascetics and was meritorious, deserving worship. (03-118-10)
Then he, the lord of the earth among the Vasus, likewise of the hosts of the Maruts and of the two Aśvins, and of Vaivasvata, the Ādityas, the lords of wealth, Indra, Viṣṇu, Savitṛ, and the mighty one. (03-118-11)
He is the great soul of Bhaga, Candra, Divākara, the lord of waters, and the Sādhyas; also of Dhātṛ, the Pitṛs, and Rudra, O king, and of their hosts as well. (03-118-12)
The king saw the very charming and holy abodes belonging to Sarasvatī, the group of siddhas, Pūṣan, other immortals, and others. (03-118-13)
He observed various fasts in those places and gave away jewels and great treasures at all the holy places; having bathed his body, he once again arrived at Shurparaka. (03-118-14)
He, having departed from that holy place on the ocean together with his brothers, approached Prabhāsa, the sacred place renowned on earth by great twice-born ones. (03-118-15)
There, the broad-red-eyed one (Yudhiṣṭhira), upon being anointed, together with his brothers, satisfied the hosts of gods and the ancestors; Kṛṣṇā (Draupadī) did likewise. The Brāhmaṇas, along with Lomaśa, were also satisfied. (03-118-16)
He, the foremost among those who uphold dharma, for twelve days practised austerity, subsisting only on water and air, performing the anointing at night, and kindling fires on all sides. (03-118-17)
Rāma and Janārdana, hearing that he was practicing intense penance, the two foremost of all the Vṛṣṇis, with their armies, went to Yudhiṣṭhira, the descendant of Ajamīḍha. (03-118-18)
The Vrishnis, seeing the Pandavas lying on the ground with their bodies smeared with dirt, and also beholding Draupadi, who deserved no such suffering, were deeply distressed and cried out in anguish. (03-118-19)
Then he approached Rāma, Janārdana (Kṛṣṇa), Kārṣṇi (Pradyumna), Sāmba, the grandson of Śini, and other Vṛṣṇis, and offered worship to them according to dharma, with an undisturbed spirit. (03-118-20)
They too, after honoring all the sons of Pṛthā and being honored in turn by the sons of Paṇḍu, surrounded Yudhiṣṭhira, O king; and sat near him just as the hosts of gods do around Indra. (03-118-21)
He, thoroughly convinced, related to Kṛṣṇa all the deeds of the others—their dwelling in the forest and how Pārtha, the son of the king of the immortals, had gone to Indra for obtaining divine weapons. (03-118-22)
But having heard his words, and understanding, when they saw them exceedingly emaciated, the Daśārhas—great-souled ones—shed water (tears), arising from the eyes, produced by pain and distress. (03-118-23)
