and red hues, are looking at one another.  And the cranes are seen near the spots covered with green and reddish grass, and also by the side of the cascades.  And those birds, bhringarajas, and upachakras, and herons are pouring forth their notes charming to all creatures.  And, lo! with their mates, these elephants furnished with four tusks, and white as lotuses, are agitating that large lake of the hue of lapises.  And from many cascades, torrents high as several palmyra palms (placed one upon another) are rushing down from the cliffs.  And many argent minerals splendid, and of the effulgence of the sun, and like unto autumnal clouds, are beautifying this mighty mountain.  And in some places there are minerals of the hue of the collyrium, and in some those like unto gold, in some, yellow orpiment and in some, vermilion, and in some, caves of red arsenic like unto the evening clouds and in some, red chalk of the hue of the rabbit, and in some, minerals like unto white and sable clouds; and in some, those effulgent as the rising sun, these minerals of great lustre beautify the mountain.  O Partha, as was said by Vrishaparva, the Gandharvas and the Kimpurushas, in company with their loves, are visible on the summits of the mountain.  And, O Bhima, there are heard various songs of appropriate measures, and also Vedic hymns, charming to all creatures.  Do thou behold the sacred and graceful celestial river Mahaganga, with swans, resorted to by sages and Kinnaras.  And, O represser of foes, see this mountain having minerals, rivulets, and beautiful woods and beasts, and snakes of diverse shapes and a hundred heads and Kinnaras, Gandharvas and Apsaras.’”

Vaisampayana said, “Having attained excellent state, those valiant and warlike repressers of foes with Draupadi and the high-souled Brahmanas were exceedingly delighted at heart, and they were not satiated by beholding that monarch of mountains.  Thereafter they saw the hermitage of the royal sage Arshtishena, furnished with flowers and trees bearing fruits.  Then they went to Arshtishena versed in all duties of rigid austerities, skeleton-like, and having muscles bare.”

SECTION CLVIII

Vaisampayana continued, “Having approached that one, whose sins had been consumed by asceticism, Yudhishthira announced his name, and gladly greeted him, bending his head.  And then Krishna, and Bhima, and the devout twins, having bowed down their heads unto the royal sage, stood (there) surrounding him.  And that priest of the Pandavas, the virtuous Dhaumya, also duly approached that vow-observing sage.  And by his prophetic eye that virtuous Muni had already known (the identity of) those foremost of the Kurus, the sons of Pandu.  And he said unto them.  ‘Be ye seated.’  And that one of rigid austerities, after having duly received that chief of the Kurus, when the latter with his brothers had seated himself enquired after his welfare saying, ’Dost