Now, O Bharata, turn thy mind towards the punishment and destruction of foes that committed wrongs.  O king, the wielder of the thunderbolt himself is incapable of standing thy prowess.  And intent upon thy welfare, he, having Suparna for his mark (Krishna), and also the grandson of Sini (Satyaki) never experience pain, even when engaged in encounter with the gods, O Dharmaraja.  And Arjuna is peerless in strength, and so am I too, O best of kings.  And as Krishna together with the Yadavas is intent upon thy welfare, so am I also, O foremost of monarchs, and the heroic twins accomplished in war.  And encountering the enemy, we, having for our main object the attainment by thee of wealth and prosperity, will destroy them.’”

Vaisampayana continued, “Then having learnt that intention of theirs, the magnanimous and excellent son of Dharma, versed in religion and profit, and of immeasurable prowess, went round Vaisravana’s abode.  And Yudhishthira the just, after bidding adieu unto the palaces, the rivers, the lakes, and all the Rakshasas, looked towards the way by which (he) had come (there).  And then looking at the mountain also, the high-souled and pure-minded one besought that best of mountains, saying, ’O foremost of mountains, may I together with my friends, after having finished my task, and slain my foes, and regained my kingdom, see thee again, carrying on austerities with subdued soul.’  And this also he determined on.  And in company with his younger brothers and the Brahmanas, the lord of the Kurus proceeded even along that very road.  And Ghatotkacha with his followers began to carry them over the mountain cascades.  And as they started, the great sage Lomasa, advising them even as a father doth his son, with a cheerful heart, went unto the sacred abode of the dwellers of heaven.  Then advised also by Arshtishena, those first of men, the Parthas, went alone beholding romantic tirthas and hermitages, and other mighty lakes.”

SECTION CLXXVI

Vaisampayana said, “When they had left their happy home in the beautiful mountain abounding in cascades, and having birds, and the elephants of the eight quarters, and the supernatural attendants of Kuvera (as dwellers thereof), all happiness forsook those foremost of men of Bharata’s race.  But afterwards on beholding Kuvera’s favourite mountain, Kailasa, appearing like clouds, the delight of those pre-eminent heroes of the race of Bharata, became very great.  And those foremost of heroic men, equipped with scimitars and bows, proceeded contentedly, beholding elevations and defiles, and dens of lions and craggy causeways and innumerable water-falls and lowlands, in different places, as also other great forests inhabited by countless deer and birds and elephants.  And they came upon beautiful woodlands and rivers and lakes and caves and mountain caverns; and these frequently by day and night became