Tirthayatra Parva — The entry into the Gandhamadana

Vaishampayana said: That Rakshasa being killed, the lord king Yudhishthira, the royal son of Kunti, returning to the hermitage of Narayana, began to dwell there.

He, (Yudhishthira) once upon a time, (during his stay in the hermitage) remembering Jaya (Arjuna) and summoning all his brothers together with Draupadi 1O his presence, addressed them thus:

We have peacefully ranged in the forests these four years. It was arranged by Vivatsu that in the fifth year,

He would get to that prince of mountains Shveta (Kailasha), the best of all peaks, enlivened with continuous festivities, celebrated by blossoming floral plants, Kokilas and black bees brimful of joy,

And by peacocks and Chatakas, inhabited by tigers, boars, buffaloes, Gabayas and deer,

And by all sorts of ferocious animals and Rurus; decked with full-blown lotuses of a thousand and hundred petals,

And (bright) with blooming lilies and blue lilies; sacred, pure and frequented by the Suras (gods) and the Asuras (demons).

And we too, with an ardent desire to meet him, had engaged to repair thither. It had been appointed by Partha of matchless prowess,

That he should remain in the region of the gods for five years in order to learn all the tactics of warfare. We shall behold in that place (in the mountain Shveta) the wielder of the Gandiva, the terror of his foes returning to our world from the abode of the gods (enriched) with weapons (obtained from them). The Pandava Yudhishthira, having expressed himself thus, greeted the assembled Brahmanas.

And having gone round and thereby pleased the sages of fervid devotion he related to them the matter mentioned above.

The Brahmanas then approved of the proposal in terms bespeaking happiness and prosperity, saying, "O the most exalted of all the Bharatas, these troubles shall soon end in prosperity.

O virtuous one, getting over all these difficulties you will govern the earth by the code of laws practised by the Kshatriyas.” Then the Raja Yudhishthira, having bowed to these words of the ascetics,

Set out with his brothers and those Brahmanas (for the Shveta) followed by the Rakshasas and protected by Lomasha.

And that one (Yudhishthira) of unrivalled energy and pious vows at some places walked on foot with his brothers and at others was carried by the Rakshasa.

Then King Yudhishthira, apprehending a good many troubles, proceeded towards the north teeming with lions, tigers and elephants.

Beholding the mountain Kailasha and Mainaka, the base of the mountain Gandhamadana and the rocky chiff Shveta,

And many a sacred stream one above the other issuing from the mountain, he ascended the sacred plateau of the Himalayas on the seventeenth day.

Then, O king in the neighbourhood of the mountain Gandhamadana and on the sacred plateau of the Himalayas, decked with various sort of trees and creepers, the Pandavas beheld the most sacred hermitage of Vrishaparva encircled by blossoming trees growing near the water courses.

The Pandavas, the tormentors of foes, on recovering from fatigue, approached the royal sage Vrishaparva and saluted him.

The royal sage too welcomed those most exalted of the Bharatas as if they were his own children. Thus received, the tormentors of foes remained there for seven nights.

On the eighth day, greeting the royal sage of world wide renown, they expressed their desire to start on their journey.

And at the proper time having introduced to Vrishaparva the Brahmana, whom he only honoured and who had remained in his charge as friends,

And having also committed to his charge their remaining clothes, O king, the sons of Pandu left their sacred ornaments and sacrificial vessels in the hermitage of Vrishaparva. That (sage) well learned, versed in all religions, having a knowledge of the past and the future,

And pious gave instructions to the most exalted of the Bharatas as to his own sons. Thus instructed, the high-souled ones proceeded towards the north.

The high-souled Vrishaparva accompanied them to a certain distance. And then committing those Pandavas of indomitable spirit of the care of the Brahma's and instructing and blessing those sons of Kunti, Vrishaparva retraced his steps after giving them directions as to the path they were to follow.

Then Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti possessed of true prowess, began to proceed on foot along the mountain path inhabited by various kinds of beasts.

And at times having dwelt on the level grounds above the mountains thickly overgrown with many trees, the Pandavas on the fourth day got to the mountain Shveta.

Looking like a mighty mass of clouds, abounding in sacred waters and consisting of a mass of gems, gold, silver and marble.

Following the route directed by Vrishaparva they proceeded on their journey beholding various mountains on (their way).

There were many inaccessible caves higher and higher up the mountains which also were equally inaccessible; but they passed them with pleasure all these difficulties notwithstanding.

Dhaumya, Krishna, Parthas and the great sage Lomasha all walked together (none lagging behind) without experiencing any fatigue.

Those highly fortunate ones then reached that sacred and highly beautiful and mighty mountain Malayavana, resounding with the voices of birds and beasts, abounding in many trees and creepers, inhabited by monkeys and containing lotus lakes, marshes and great forests.

Then with their hair standing on the end, they beheld with great pleasure the mount Gandhamadana, the abode of the Kimpurušas, frequented by the Siddhas and the Charanas,

Visited by the Vidyadharas and the Kinnars, the abode of herds of elephants, full of lions and tigers,

Resounding with the roar of Saravas and inhabited by various other animals. Then with great delight, the heroic Pandavas gradually entered the forest of the Gandhamadana resembling the Nandana gardens, pleasant to the mind and heart, auspicious and capable of affording protection,

And as those heroes together with Draupadi and the noble-minded Brahmanas entered the forest of the Gandhamadana they began to hear inarticulate notes causing delight, sweet, auspicious, pleasant to the ear, sweetly melodious and issuing out of the mouth of birds. And they beheld various trees bending down under the weight of fruits and radiant with flowers of all seasons-such as mango Amarataka, Bhabya, Coconut, Tinduka,

Munjataka, Jiva, Pomegranate, Beejpuran, Panasha, Lakucha, plantains, Kharjara, Amlabatasha,

Parvata, Champaka and lovely Kadamba, Vilva, Kapitha, Jamboos, Kansmari, Badari,

Plaksha, Udumbaras, Vata, Asvattha, Khirika, Bhallataka, Amalaki, Haritaki, Bhibhitaki,

Inguda, Karamarda, Tinduka and Mahaphalas, these any many other trees on the plateau of the Gandhamadana,

Clustered with delicious fruits of ambrosial taste. And (besides these) they beheld Champakas, Ashokas, Aetakas, Aakulas,

Punnagas, Saptaparnas, Karnikaras, Patalas, Kutajas and beautiful Mandaras and lotuses,

Parijatas, Kovidaras, Devadarus, Salas, Talas, Tamala, Pippalas, Hingukas,

Salmalis, Kinshukas, Ashokas, Singshapas and Saralas. And these trees were inhabited by Chakoras, Satapatras, Bhringarajas, Shukas,

Kokilas, Kalabinkas, Haritas, Jibojibakas, Priakas, Chatakas and various other birds warbling forth sweet notes pleasant to the ear. And they beheld also lakes all around looking beautiful with water birds filled.

And interspersed with Kumudas, lotuses, Kakonadas and Utpalas, Kalharas and Kamalas,

And teeming with Kadambas, Chakrabakas, Kuraras, waterfowls, Karandavas, Palavas, swans, cranes, Madgus,

And other aquatic birds of all description. And those most exalted of men beheld on the plateau of the Gandhamadana lakes decorated all over with arrays of lotuses and ringing with the sweet hum of gladdened black-bees drowsy with drinking the intoxicating juice of red lotuses and reddened with pollens falling from the lotus-cups.

And in the groves of creepers they beheld those joyful-wood-loving peacocks with their mates, maddened with an excess of animal propensity caused by the sound of the clouds resembling the trumpet-notes, sportive and drowsy with lust, dancing with their gorgeous tails out spread and warbling forth sweet and melodious notes. Some of the peacocks, seated on the Kutaja trees densely carpeted with creepers, were sporting with their sweet hearts; some, seated on the boughs of the Kutaja trees and proud of their splendid tails spread out looked like so many crowns worn by the trees; and some seated in the holes of trees looked exceedingly beautiful.

On the summits of the mountains they saw the graceful Sindoofar trees looking like the arrows of Cupid and the blossoming and gold coloured Karnikaras appearing like ear-rings of excellent workmanship. And in the woods of the Gandhamadana they beheld the blossoming Kurubakas appearing like the shafts of Cupid and making the lustful persons more and more amorous. They beheld also the Tilaka trees appearing like beauty-spots painted on the forehead of the forest. They beheld further the beautiful Shahakaras (mango trees) have the efficacy of Cupid's darts, graced with blossoms and hummed over by black bees. There grew several trees on the plateau of the mountains; some of which bearing flowers of a golden hue, some, of the colour resembling forest conflagration, some red, some green and some sable, looked supremely beautiful.

Then again there were rows of Sala, Tamalas Patalas and Bakulas encircling the summing of the mountains like so many garlands.

Thus, gradually beholding on the plateau of the Gandhamadana, many lakes as transparent as crystal, full of swans of white plumage, ringing with the cries of Sarasas, decked with lotuses and lilies and containing water of pleasurable feel and also beholding fragrant flowers and luscious fruits, beautiful lakes and highly beautiful trees, the heroic Parthas with eyes expanded with wonder penetrated into the forest (of Gandhamadana).

And as they walked on they were fanned by the breeze of balmy feel perfumed by Kamalas, Utapalas, Kalparas and Pandarikas.

Then Yudhishthira said to Bhima in affectionate terms "O Bhima, beautiful indeed is this forest of the Gandhamadana!

In this pleasant forest there are various excellent wild trees and creepers covered with foliage, flowers and fruits.

This forest is beautified with handsome flowers and maddened male Kokilas, nor there are in it any thorny trees and trees that do not flower.

On the plateau of the Gandhamadana all the trees are furnished with glossy foliage and fruits. Look! how these lotus-lakes decked with full blown lotuses and sweet with the hum of black fees are being agitated by elephants with their mates! look at another lotus lake decked with an array of lotuses and looking like a second Sree in very flesh and blood with a garland encircling her neck. In this excellent forest, there are ranges of woods rich with the fragrance of various flowers and ringing with the hum of the black fees. O Bhima, behold on all sides the auspicious sporting grounds of the gods!

O Vrikodara, by our arrival here we have attained to a state transcending the human and our desire has been fulfilled. O Partha, on these plateaus of the Gandhamadana, you excellent blossoming trees, embraced by flower creepers, look supremely handsome. O Bhima, listen to the warbles of the peacocks wandering with their sweet-hearts on the slopes of the mountain, of the Chataka, Satapatra and maddened Kokila and Sarikas.

Birds alighting these great blossoming trees. O Partha, seated on the boughs these myriad of Yivajevaka birds of scarlet, yellow and red colour are looking at one another. And near the green and red grass plots,

And also near the mountain spring. The cranes are seen and the Bhringaraja, Chakoas and herons are sending forth melodious notes causing delight to all creatures. Elephants, furnished with four tusks and of the colour of lotuses, accompanied by their mates,

Are agitating that great lake of the colour of lapses. And torrents gushing down from the summits of the mountains are spouting forth as high as several palm trees from the springs. And many silvery minerals of sun-like splendour and looking like a dense mass of autumnal clouds are beautifying this mighty mountain. In some places minerals of the hue of the collyrium, in some of golden hue and in some yellow orpiment, in some vermilion and in some caves of red arsenic resembling the evening clouds, in some red chalk of the hue of the rabbit and in some minerals resembling white and sable clouds and of the rays of the rising sun-these and many other minerals of mighty splendour, are adding largely to the beauty of the mountain. As was told by Vrishparvana, Gandharvas with their sweethearts,

And accompanied by the Kimpurushas, O Partha, are seen on the summits of the mountain. Songs exactly keeping time and also the chanting of the Samaveda,

Delightful to all creatures are being repeatedly heard. Behold the auspicious and sacred celestials river Mahaganga

Adorned with swans and worshipped by the sages and the Kinnaras. O tormentor of foes, O son of Kunti, behold this prince of mountains containing minerals and rivulets, Kinnaras, deer and birds, Gandharvas and Apsaras and pleasant gardens and snakes of many shapes and of hundred heads.

Vaishampayana said: Those tormentors of foes, those heroes accompanied by Draupadi and the high-souled Brahmanas having attained to an excellent state were highly glad at heart and were not satiated by beholding (over and over again) that prince of mountains. They then viewed the hermitage of the royal sage Arstisena adorned with flowers and trees bearing fruits. And they approached that royal sage of fervid devotion, versed in all religious lores and having muscles bare.