The Pandava's entrance into the Dvaitavana

Vaishampayana said : They having gone, the virtuous-souled son of Kunti, Yudhishthira, of firm vows addressed all his brothers.

"We shall have to live in this lonely forest for twelve years; do you find out in this huge forest a spot, spot, charming, auspicious and abounding in many deer, birds, flowers and fruits and filled with pious men, where we may live happily for all these years."

Being thus addressed, Dhananjaya replied to the pious and intelligent (Yudhishthira) having honoured him as if he were his spiritual guide.

Arjuna said: You have respectfully worshipped the old and great Rishis; there is nothing on this earth which is unknown to you.

O best of the Bharatas, you have always worshipped the Brahmanas of great austerities such as Dvaipayana and Narada.

Who, having controlled over senses, always wander over all the regions from the region of the celestials to those of Brahma, Gandharvas and Apsaras.

You know well, without any doubt, the opinions of all the Brahmanas; you know, O king, the prowess of all.

You know also, O king, what conduces to our well-being; and wherever you wish, O great king, we shall fix our habitation.

Here is the lake called Dvyaitavana, resorted to by the pious, abounding in many flowers and fruits, charming and inhabited by birds of diverse species.

If you please, O king, we would like to live here for twelve years; do you think otherwise?

Yudhishthira said : I do fully approve of what you have said. O Partha, let us repair to that sacred and celebrated lake Dvyaitavana.

Vaishampayana said : Thereupon the pious sons of Pandu, followed by numberless Brahmanas all repaired to the holy lake Dvyaitavana.

The Brahmanas, some offering sacrifice to the fire, some without it, some engaged in the study of the Vedas, some depending upon alms and some living in the forest, all these numberless Brahmanas as well as hundreds of Mahatamas of accomplished ascetic piety and hard austerities surrounded Yudhishthira.

And setting out with these numberless Brahmanas the Bharata chiefs, the sons of Pandu, entered the holy and the charming forest of Dvyaita.

The king saw that huge forest covered, at the end of summer, with Shalas palms, mangoes, Madhukas, Nipas, Kadambas, Sarjas, Arjunas, Karnikaras clothed with flowers;

And peacocks, Datyuhas, Chakoras, Barhins and Kokilas sat on the top of the highest trees and emitted their sweet notes. saw

In that forest the king (also) saw the leaders of elephant-herds, gigantic like hills with temporal juice trickling down in the season of rut and accompanied by herds of she-elephants.

And approaching the picturesque Bhagavati (Sarasvati) he many ascetics of accomplished piety in that forest in the hermitages of pious (Rishis) of purified souls and wearing bark and matted-locks.

Thereupon descending from his chariot, the king, the foremost of the pious, with his brothers and followers, entered the forest like Indra of mincasurable prowess entering heaven.

With a view of seeing the truthful king many Charanas and Siddhas approached him; and the dwellers of the forest stood encircling that highly intelligent chief of kings.

Then saluting all the Siddhas and being adored by them in return like a king or a god, that foremost of the pious, accompanied by all the leading twice-born, entered (the forest).

And being worshipped in return by those pious ascetics who had approached him that pious and high-souled king, sat down with them at the foot of a huge tree covered with flowers like her father Pandu in the days of yore.

Bhima, Krishna (Draupadi), Dhananjaya, the twins and all their retinue all wearied and leaving conveyances sat on all sides of that foremost of kings.

The huge tree, bent down with the weight of creepers, with those five illustrious bowmen sitting under it for rest, appeared like a mountain with five gigantic elephants resting at its side.