SECTION CXLIV

“Yudhishthira said, ’O Bhima, let this mighty and heroic Rakshasa chief, thy legitimate son, devoted to us, and truthful, and conversant with virtue carry (his) mother (Draupadi) without delay.  And, O possessor of dreadful prowess, depending on the strength of thy arms, I shall reach the Gandhamadana, unhurt, together with Panchala’s daughter.’”

Vaisampayana said, “Hearing the words of his brother, that tiger among men, Bhimasena, commanded his son, Ghatotkacha, represser of foes, saying, ’O invincible son of Hidimva, this thy mother hath been sorely tired.  Thou art, again, strong and capable of going wherever thou likest.  Do thou therefore, O ranger of the skies, carry her.  May prosperity attend thee!  Taking her on thy shoulders, thou shalt go in our company, adopting a course not far overhead,—­so that thou mayst not render her uneasy.’  Thereat, Ghatotkacha said, ’Even single-handed, I am able to carry Yudhishthira the just, and Dhaumya, and Krishna, and the twins—­and what wonder then that I shall to-day carry them, when I have others to assist me?  And, O sinless one, hundreds of other heroic (Rakshasas), capable of moving through the sky, and of assuming any shape at will, will together carry you all with the Brahmanas.’”

Vaisampayana said, “Saying this, Ghatotkacha carried Krishna in the midst of the Pandavas, and the other (Rakshasas) also began to carry the Pandavas.  And by virtue of his native energy, Lomasa of incomparable effulgence moved along the path of the Siddhas, like unto a second sun.  And at the command of the lord of the Rakshasas, those Rakshasas of terrific prowess began to proceed, bearing all the other Brahmanas, and beholding many a romantic wood.  And they proceeded towards the gigantic jujube tree.  And carried by the Rakshasas of great speed, proceeding at a rapid pace, the heroes passed over longextending ways quickly, as if over short ones.  And on their way they saw various tracts crowded with Mlechchha people, and containing mines of diverse gems.  And they also saw hillocks teeming with various minerals, thronged with Vidyadharas, inhabited on all sides by monkeys and Kinnaras and Kimpurushas, and Gandharvas, and filled with peacocks, and chamaras, and apes, and turus, and bears, and gavayas, and buffaloes, intersected with a network of rivulets, and inhabited by various birds and beasts, and beautified by elephants, and abounding in trees and enraptured birds.  After having thus passed many countries, and also the Uttarakurus, they saw that foremost of mountains, the Kailasa, containing many wonders.  And by the side of it, they beheld the hermitage of Nara and Narayana, with celestial trees bearing flowers and fruits in all seasons.  And they also beheld that beautiful jujube of round trunk.  And it was fresh; and of deep shade; and of excellent beauty; and of thick, soft and sleek foliage; and healthful;