And he saw there rivers with currents of the lapis
lazuli, broken by the fierce eddies here and there,
and echoing with the notes of swans and ducks and
cranes. And the banks of those rivers resounded
with the mellifluous strains of the male Kokilas
and the notes of peacocks and cranes. And the
mighty warrior, beholding those rivers of sacred and
pure and delicious water and their charming banks,
became highly delighted. And the delighted Arjuna
of fierce energy and high soul then devoted himself
to rigid austerities in that delightful and woody
region. Clad in rags made of grass and furnished
with a black deerskin and a stick, he commenced to
eat withered leaves fallen upon the ground. And
he passed the first month, by eating fruits at the
interval of three nights; and the second by eating
at the interval of the six nights; and the third by
eating at the interval of a fortnight. When the
fourth month came, that best of the Bharatas—the
strong-armed son of Pandu—began to subsist
on air alone. With arms upraised and leaning
upon nothing and standing on the tips of his toes,
he continued his austerities. And the illustrious
hero’s locks, in consequence of frequent bathing
took the hue of lightning or the lotus. Then all
the great Rishis went together unto the god of the
Pinaka for representing unto him about the
fierce asceticism of Pritha’s son. And bowing
unto that god of gods, they informed him of Arjuna’s
austerities saying, ’This son of Pritha possessed
of great energy is engaged in the most difficult of
ascetic austerities on the breast of the Himavat.
Heated with his asceticism, the earth is smoking all
round, O god of gods. We do not know what his
object is for which he is engaged in these austerities.
He, however, is causing us pain. It behoveth thee
to prevent him!’ Hearing these words of those
munis with souls under perfect control, the
lord of all creatures—the husband of Uma
said, ’It behoveth you not to indulge in any
grief on account of Phalguna! Return ye all cheerfully
and with alacrity to the places whence ye have come.
I know the desire that is in Arjuna’s heart.
His wish is not for heaven, nor for prosperity, nor
for long life. And I will accomplish, even this
day, all that is desired by him.’”
Vaisampayana continued, “The truth-speaking Rishis, having heard these words of Mahadeva, became delighted, and returned to their respective abodes.”
SECTION XXXIX
Vaisampayana said, “After all those illustrious ascetics had gone away, that wielder of the Pinaka and cleanser of all sins—the illustrious Hara—assuming the form of a Kirata resplendent as a golden tree, and with a huge and stalwart form like a second Meru, and taking up a hand some bow and a number of arrows resembling snakes of virulent poison, and looking like an embodiment of fire, came quickly down on the breast of Himavat.