03.155
Section of the battle with the yakṣa
Vaiśampāyana said.
When the demon was slain, the king, son of Kuntī, again went to Nārāyaṇa's hermitage and took up residence there, O lord. (03-155-1)
He gathered together all those brothers and then spoke these words; at the proper time, accompanied by Draupadī, he remembered his brother Jaya. (03-155-2)
The four years spent by those wandering in the forest with Śiva have been reached; and Bibhatsu, after receiving instruction, surrounded the fifth year. (03-155-3)
After reaching the king of mountains, the white one and best among the mountains, there too, a declaration was made by those who wished to gather. (03-155-4)
An agreement was made with me in the past by Pārtha of immeasurable energy: "I will dwell as a seeker of knowledge for five years." (03-155-5)
There, we shall see the Gāṇḍīva-bow-wielder, the subduer of enemies, who, having obtained his weapon, has returned to this world from the world of the gods. (03-155-6)
Thus, having spoken, the son of Pāṇḍu addressed all the Brāhmaṇas and also declared to the ascetics the reason for this. (03-155-7)
The Brāhmaṇas, pleased with him of intense penance, circumambulated Pārtha and then rejoiced, wishing auspiciousness and welfare. (03-155-8)
O best of the Bharatas, you, who know dharma, will soon overcome this suffering—bearing happiness as its result—by fulfilling the kṣatriya's duty, and will rule the earth. (03-155-9)
But the king, having accepted the words of those ascetics, departed with those brāhmaṇas and his brothers, the subduer of enemies. (03-155-10)
Accompanied by Draupadī, the glorious one, followed by Haiḍimbeya and others as well as rākṣasas, and protected by Lomaśa. (03-155-11)
Sometimes he walked on foot, but elsewhere he was carried by the rākṣasas; here and there, the greatly radiant, firm in vows, together with his brothers. (03-155-12)
Then King Yudhiṣṭhira, reflecting on many troubles, went to the northern direction teeming with lions, tigers, and elephants. (03-155-13)
Observing Kailāsa, Maināka, and that mountain as well as the foothills of Gandhamādana and also Meru, the lofty rocky peak. (03-155-14)
On the seventeenth day, he went to the holy summit of Himavat, over many auspicious rivers and heights of the mountain. (03-155-15)
O king, the Pāṇḍavas saw the sacred Gandhamādana mountain, full of many trees and creepers, close by, on the far side of the Himalaya. (03-155-16)
The most holy hermitage of Vṛṣaparvan, surrounded by blossoming trees generated by water-whirlpools. (03-155-17)
Having approached him, the subduers of foes—the Pāṇḍavas—who were freed from fatigue, saluted the royal sage Vṛṣaparvan of righteous soul. (03-155-18)
The royal sage was delighted with the foremost of the Bharatas as if they were his own sons; after being honored, the destroyers of foes stayed there for seven nights. (03-155-19)
When the eighth day had arrived, having addressed the sage renowned in the world, he informed Vṛṣaparvan about the departure. (03-155-20)
Having delivered each of those Brāhmaṇas one by one to Vṛṣaparvan, placed in trust at the proper time and well-honored, as if they were his own relatives. (03-155-21)
Then the Pāṇḍavas placed those excellent garments and auspicious ornaments in that hermitage of Vṛṣaparvan. (3-155-22)
He, the learned and skillful knower of all dharmas, knowing the past and future, instructed the foremost of the Bharatas like a father to sons, being a knower of dharma. (03-155-23)
They, the great-souled ones, having been permitted, departed in the northern direction. Together with Kṛṣṇā, the heroes left along with the great-souled Brāhmaṇas. Vṛṣaparvā, the lord of the earth, followed those who had set out. (03-155-24)
Then the greatly energetic Vṛṣaparvan, having presented the Pāṇḍavas to the Brāhmaṇas, after arranging for the sons of Kuntī and blessing them, saluted them. Having pointed out the road, he turned back. (03-155-25)
Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti of true valor, set forth on foot together with his brothers through the place adorned by groups of various wild animals. (03-155-26)
The Pāṇḍavas, after dwelling among the thickets of various trees upon the mountain slopes, entered the white mountain on the fourth day. (03-155-27)
A mountain, auspicious and beautiful with jewels and gold, appearing like great dense clouds, adorned with water, and having various elevations. (03-155-28)
They, after reaching the road as instructed by Vṛṣaparvan, went along as directed, observing various cities. (03-155-29)
They easily traversed many of the mountain's caves that were extremely difficult to access, ascending higher and higher. (03-155-30)
Dhaumya, Kṛṣṇā, the Pārthas and Lomaśa, the great sage, all went there together; no one was left behind. (03-155-31)
They saw a place filled with many kinds of animals and birds, thronged with various birds, frequented by groups of monkeys, and very delightful. (03-155-32)
The mighty heroes, in that holy region adorned with lotus ponds and vast forests with marshes, approached the great mountain Mālyavat. (03-155-33)
Then, with hair standing on end in delight, they saw the mountain Gandhamādana, the abode of the Kimpuruṣas, attended by Siddhas and Cāraṇas. (03-155-34)
Accompanied by Vidyādharas and likewise by Kinnarīs, crowded with elephants and lions, and swarming with bounding śarabhas. (03-155-35)
Then, joined by other deer with gentle calls, they entered the Gandhamadana forest, which was like the Nandana garden. (03-155-36)
Joyful, the sons of Pāṇḍu, who delighted the hearts and minds, the heroic ones, entered the auspicious forest one after another. (03-155-37)
The heroes, together with Draupadī and those great-souled brāhmaṇas, listened to charming, intoxicating, auspicious, and delight-giving sounds—very sweet sounds, pleasing to the ears, which were uttered by the voices of birds. (03-155-38)
They beheld trees that were heavy with fruit in every season, brilliant with flowers throughout the year, and also bowed down by the weight of their fruits. (03-155-39)
Mangoes, hog plums, blossomed coconuts, Ceylon ironwood fruits, unripe myrobalans, as well as cumin fruits, pomegranates, and citrons. (03-155-40)
Jackfruits, licorice, bananas, dates, mangoes and canes, pigeons, honeycombs, and kadamba trees, all delightful to the mind. (03-155-41)
Bilva, wood apple, jamun, Kashmari, and jujube trees; also fig, cluster fig, banyan, peepul, other sap-producing trees; marking nut, amla, haritaki, and bibhitaka trees. (03-155-42)
Inguda, oleander, tinduka, and other trees bearing large fruits, as well as many other various kinds, grow on the slopes of the Gandhamadana mountain. (3-155-43)
There were trees laden with fruits like nectar, sweet to taste; and likewise there were campaka, aśoka, ketaka, and bakula trees as well. (03-155-44)
Puṇnāga, saptaparṇa, karṇikāra, ketaka, pāṭala, kuṭaja, mandāra, and indīvara—these beautiful trees and flowers also. (03-155-45)
There are Pārijāta, Kovidāra, deodar, śāla, palm, tamāla, priyāla, bakula, śālmalī, kiṁśuka, aśoka, śiṁśapā, and tarala trees. (03-155-46)
It was filled with chakora birds, lotuses, bhṛṅgarāja birds, parrots, cuckoos, kalaviṅka birds, hārita birds, and jīvajīvaka birds. (03-155-47)
(The groves are) inhabited by priyavrata and cātaka birds and by various other kinds of birds, (whose presence) is pleasing to the ear and very sweet with their chirping. (03-155-48)
There were lakes with clear, variegated waters, adorned all around with kumuda, puṇḍarīka, kokanada and utpala, kahlaara, and lotuses. (03-155-49)
With kadamba ducks, cakravāka geese, kurara birds, waterfowl, kāraṇḍava ducks, diving birds, swans, cranes, and madgu birds—indeed, with these and with others—(the waters) were filled all around with creatures dwelling in the water. (03-155-50)
Thus, (the birds were) delighted, languid from the intoxication of lotus-nectar, and reddened by filaments stained crimson with the pollen that had fallen from the hearts of lotuses. (03-155-51)
They saw the charming lotus ponds, resounding with sweet sounds of bees, on the slopes of Gandhamadana. (03-155-52)
In the same way, in groves adorned everywhere with clusters of lotuses, and in vine-bowers filled with peahens, there were those greatly excited by the overpowering intoxication of the thunderous sound of rain clouds. (03-155-53)
They saw peacocks, with variegated tails spread out, graceful and languid with intoxication, producing cries sweet as melodious music, dancing as the revellers of the forest. (03-155-54)
Enjoying happiness together with their beloved women, not observing anyone else, standing amidst the thickets of vines and groves, in the same way. (03-155-55)
They saw certain groups of birds, prominent on the branches and adorned with plumage crests like colorful crowns. In the hollows of the trees too, they saw joyful birds. (03-155-56)
Then, sindhuvāra trees, mighty like the javelins of Manmatha, and strewn with golden flowers, were seen on the peaks of the mountains. (03-155-57)
He saw the laburnum trees, fashioned as if they were excellent ear-ornaments, and then he beheld in the clusters of forests the blossoming kurabaka trees, whose eager hands, subdued by desire, were like the heaps of arrows of Kāma. (03-155-58)
In the same way, among the forest trees, they saw splendid, excellently arranged tilaka trees, shining like tilaka trees. (03-155-59)
Thus he saw the charming mango trees, shaped like the arrows of Kāma, resounding with the hum of bees and adorned with flower clusters. (03-155-60)
With gold-colored, wildfire-resembling, red, collyrium-black, and lapis lazuli-like flowers as well. (03-155-61)
In this way śāla, tamāla, pāṭali, and bakula trees, closely entwined like garlands, adorn the peaks of the mountains. (03-155-62)
In this way, those heroes, gradually looking in every direction, saw an area blocked like a herd of elephants, full of lions and tigers. (03-155-63)
The spurs of Gandhamādana are filled with the roars of wild beasts, resounding with various cries, and are rich in fruits and flowers throughout all seasons. (03-155-64)
The forest creepers became yellow and radiant in color. Here, there were no thorny plants, nor any unflowering ones. The trees on the slopes of Gandhamādana had glossy leaves and fruits. (03-155-65)
The Pāṇḍavas beheld lakes and rivers on the mountain slopes, crystal-clear, inhabited by white-plumed birds and royal swans, and resounding with cranes. (03-155-66)
Variegated with lotuses and waterlilies, waters pleasant to the touch, fragrant garlands, fruits full of essence, and exceedingly, blossoming trees shine on the mountain slopes. (03-155-67)
These, and many others too—forest-born trees there, and creepers of various forms with abundant leaves, flowers, and fruits. (03-155-68)
But Yudhishthira, seeing those trees on the excellent mountain, spoke this statement with sweet words to Bhimasena. (03-155-69)
See, Bhīma, these auspicious regions and the divine sports happening all around; those perfected beings have truly attained a superhuman state, O Vṛkodara. (03-155-70)
O Pārtha, on the slopes of Gandhamādana, the blossoming excellent trees, entwined with many creepers, shine brilliantly. (03-155-71)
Hear the terrible resounding sound of the roaring, united crested males together with crested females, moving on the slopes of the mountains. (03-155-72)
The chakora birds, lotus-birds, intoxicated cuckoos and starlings, and other leaf-dwelling birds, cling to these blossoming great trees. (3-155-73)
O Pārtha, many jīvajīvaka birds, red, yellow, and reddish in color, have reached the tops of the trees and are looking at each other. (03-155-74)
Cranes are seen all around the grassy spots with green-red hues, and also at the mountain springs. (03-155-75)
They utter sweet words that are agreeable to the mind of all beings; and these leafy plants possess whorled flowers like the bhṛṅgarāja and iron-like surfaces. (03-155-76)
These four-tusked, lotus-radiant elephants, together with their mates, agitate the great beryl-colored lake. (3-155-77)
These streams of water, with great elevations, fall from mountain peaks and various springs.
Various kinds of silver ores, mighty and shining like the sun and resembling masses of autumn clouds, adorn the great mountain. (03-155-79)
In some places, the ores appear like the color of collyrium, in some places resembling gold; there are ores of haritāla (orpiment), and in some places of dhingulaka (cinnabar). (03-155-80)
There are caves of realgar, like masses of clouds at twilight; in some places, minerals of red ochre appear with a hue like rabbit's blood. (03-155-81)
These, resembling white and black clouds and possessing radiance like the rising sun, of various kinds, greatly illuminate and adorn the mountain. (03-155-82)
O Pārtha, the gandharvas with their beloved women, as described by Vṛṣaparvan, are seen on the mountain peaks together with the kimpuruṣas. (03-155-83)
Just as the sounds of songs, drums, and hymns are heard in many forms—a dreadful yet enchanting resonance to all beings. (03-155-84)
Behold the great Ganga, the holy and auspicious divine river, adorned by flocks of royal swans and attended by sages and kinnaras. (03-155-85)
With minerals, rivers, Kiṁnaras, wild animals and birds, Gandharvas, Apsarases, and with beautiful forests. (03-155-86)
Behold, O son of Kunti, the king of mountains, surrounded on all sides by serpents of various forms and a hundred heads, O subduer of enemies. (03-155-87)
Though the heroes with joyful minds had attained the unsurpassed state, the enemy-tormenters were not satisfied merely by seeing the king of mountains. (03-155-88)
Then they saw the hermitage of Ārṣṭiṣeṇa, the royal sage, which was adorned with garlands and fruit-laden trees. (03-155-89)
After that, Arṣṭiṣeṇa, who had performed intense austerity, was emaciated, with prominent veins, and who had transcended all dharmas, was approached. (03-155-90)
