brought by the Rishi of their brother Arjuna staving
in the heavens; then the pilgrimage of the Pandavas
to various sacred spots in accordance with the message
of Arjuna, and their attainment of great merit and
virtue consequent on such pilgrimage; then the pilgrimage
of the great sage Narada to the shrine Putasta; also
the pilgrimage of the high-souled Pandavas. Here
is the deprivation of Karna of his ear-rings by Indra.
Here also is recited the sacrificial magnificence
of Gaya; then the story of Agastya in which the Rishi
ate up the Asura Vatapi, and his connubial connection
with Lopamudra from the desire of offspring.
Then the story of Rishyasringa who adopted Brahmacharya
mode of life from his very boyhood; then the history
of Rama of great prowess, the son of Jamadagni, in
which has been narrated the death of Kartavirya and
the Haihayas; then the meeting between the Pandavas
and the Vrishnis in the sacred spot called Prabhasa;
then the story of Su-kanya in which Chyavana, the son
of Bhrigu, made the twins, Aswinis, drink, at the
sacrifice of king Saryati, the Soma juice (from which
they had been excluded by the other gods), and in which
besides is shown how Chyavana himself acquired perpetual
youth (as a boon from the grateful Aswinis).
Then hath been described the history of king Mandhata;
then the history of prince Jantu; and how king Somaka
by offering up his only son (Jantu) in sacrifice obtained
a hundred others; then the excellent history of the
hawk and the pigeon; then the examination of king
Sivi by Indra, Agni, and Dharma; then the story of
Ashtavakra, in which occurs the disputation, at the
sacrifice of Janaka, between that Rishi and the first
of logicians, Vandi, the son of Varuna; the defeat
of Vandi by the great Ashtavakra, and the release by
the Rishi of his father from the depths of the ocean.
Then the story of Yavakrita, and then that of the
great Raivya: then the departure (of the Pandavas)
for Gandhamadana and their abode in the asylum called
Narayana; then Bhimasena’s journey to Gandhamadana
at the request of Draupadi (in search of the sweet-scented
flower). Bhima’s meeting on his way, in
a grove of bananas, with Hanuman, the son of Pavana
of great prowess; Bhima’s bath in the tank and
the destruction of the flowers therein for obtaining
the sweet-scented flower (he was in search of); his
consequent battle with the mighty Rakshasas and the
Yakshas of great prowess including Hanuman; the destruction
of the Asura Jata by Bhima; the meeting (of the Pandavas)
with the royal sage Vrishaparva; their departure for
the asylum of Arshtishena and abode therein:
the incitement of Bhima (to acts of vengeance) by
Draupadi. Then is narrated the ascent on the hills
of Kailasa by Bhimasena, his terrific battle with
the mighty Yakshas headed by Hanuman; then the meeting
of the Pandavas with Vaisravana (Kuvera), and the
meeting with Arjuna after he had obtained for the purpose
of Yudhishthira many celestial weapons; then Arjuna’s
terrible encounter with the Nivatakavachas dwelling