03.174
Vaiśampāyana said.
Although they were leaving an excellent mountain adorned with streams, filled with elephants of the quarters and Kinnara birds, those foremost among the Bharatas did not feel joy in departing from their pleasant abode. (03-174-1)
Then indeed, for them, great joy arose again upon seeing Kailāsa. For the foremost of the Bharatas, the mountain beloved of Kubera shone like a carrier of clouds. (03-174-2)
The heroes, observing elevations, mountain enclosures, cow-pens of the mountains, chains of mountain ridges, and many precipices, as well as low-lying tracts of land here and there, (proceeded on their way). (03-174-3)
In the same way, the outstanding warriors, who were archers and sword-bearers, confidently proceeded, surveying other great forests inhabited by many kinds of beasts and birds. (03-174-4)
Pleasant forests, lakes, rivers, mountain caves, and grottoes—these always became the dwellings, night after night, of the best among men. (03-174-5)
Having traversed many difficult regions and passed the incomparable form of Kailāsa, they finally reached the exceedingly delightful, eminent hermitage of Vṛṣaparvan. (03-174-6)
Having approached, those who were free from delusion were respectfully received by King Vṛṣaparvan, and they explained in detail their auspicious exile to Vṛṣaparvan as was proper. (03-174-7)
After spending one restful night there, in the holy hermitage inhabited by celestial sages, the heroes again approached the vast Badarī and dwelt there comfortably. (03-174-8)
Then the great-souled noble men, having gone to the abode of Nārāyaṇa, approached and, free from sorrow, beheld the lotus lake dear to Kubera, cherished by gods and siddhas. (03-174-9)
Then, having beheld the lotus-lake, the sons of Pāṇḍu, foremost among men, free from sorrow, rejoiced on reaching the delightful Nandana grove, just like the fearless Brahmin sages. (03-174-10)
Then the heroic men, all together, returned in order by the same path they had come. After spending a month happily at Badari, they went to the territory of Subāhu, the king of the Kirātas. (03-174-11)
Having crossed the difficult Himalayan region and the jewel-rich countries of the Chinese, Tukhāras, Daradas, Sadarvas, and Kuṇinda, the heroic princes saw the city of Subāhu. (03-174-12)
Having heard that all those sons and grandsons of kings had arrived in his territory, King Subāhu, full of affection, went forth to meet them; and the chiefs of the Kurus welcomed him. (03-174-13)
Having assembled by the king and by Subāhuna, they, along with all the charioteers headed by Viśoka, together with Indrasena and the attendants, the family priests, and those stationed in the kitchen, (acted thus). (03-174-14)
After spending a pleasant night there, they took all their charioteers and chariots, dismissed Ghaṭotkaca and his followers, and then proceeded to the king of mountains by the Yamunā. (03-174-15)
On that mountain, which had springs and peaks snowy, reddish, and pale, with diverging summits like stakes, the foremost of men then made their dwelling. (03-174-16)
They went to a great forest endowed with boars, various beasts, and birds, shining like Caitraratha; having gone there auspiciously, being devoted to hunting, they spent a year in that forest. (03-174-17)
There in the mountain cave, Vṛkodara, his innermost self afflicted by grief and confusion, approached a mighty serpent, ghastly and fierce like death itself, tormented by hunger. (03-174-18)
Yudhiṣṭhira, the foremost among bearers of dharma, released Vṛkodara, whose every limb was enveloped by the crocodile, on the island. (03-174-19)
When the twelfth year was coming to an end, the Kurus appeared ready to roam in the forest. Therefore, coming from the forest, brilliant as Caitraratha, radiant with beauty and endowed with asceticism. (03-174-20)
Then, having gone to the side of Maru-dhanva, those who were always chiefly devoted to the science of archery, upon reaching the Sarasvati river and wishing to settle, from the lake there they proceeded towards the Dvaita forest. (03-174-21)
After observing them, the inhabitants settled in Dvaita forest there approached. They were engaged in austerity, gifts, virtuous conduct, and concentration, and were gatherers of grass, water-pots, fetchers, and grinders of stones. (03-174-22)
Ficus, Terminalia bellirica, Symplocos, bamboos, Euphorbia, jujube, acacia, albizia, bilva, Schleichera, Salvadora, śamī, and karīra trees all grew on the bank of the Sarasvatī. (03-174-23)
The sons of kings enjoyed the Sarasvatī—beloved of yakṣas, gandharvas, and great sages, appearing like an illusory creation of the gods—roaming about with joy. (03-174-24)
