Siddhas and great Rishis, cheerfully reverenced Pritha’s
son of white deeds. Benedictions were poured
upon him, accompanied by the sounds of celestial music.
The strong-armed son of Pritha then heard around him
the music of conchs and drums. And praised all
around, the son of Pritha then went, at the command
of Indra, to that large and extensive starry way called
by the name of Suravithi. There he met with the
Sadhyas, the Viswas, the Marutas, the twin Aswins,
the Adityas, the Vasus, the Rudras, the Brahmarshis
of the great splendour, and numerous royal sages with
Dilipa at their head, and Tumvura and Narada, and that
couple of Gandharvas known by the names of Haha and
Huhu. And the Kuru prince—that chastiser
of foes—having met and duly saluted them,
last of all beheld the chief of the celestials—the
god of a hundred sacrifices. Then the strong-armed
son of Pritha, alighting from the car approached the
lord himself of the gods—his father—that
chastiser of Paka. And a beautiful white umbrella
furnished with a golden staff was held over the chief
of the celestials. And he was fanned with a Chamara
perfumed with celestial scents. And he was eulogised
by many Gandharvas headed by Viswavasu and others,
by bards and singers, and by foremost Brahmanas chanting
Rik and Yajus hymns. And the mighty son of Kunti,
approaching Indra, saluted him by bending his head
to the ground. And Indra thereupon embraced him
with his round and plump arms. And taking his
hand, Sakra made him sit by him on a portion of his
own seat, that sacred seat which was worshipped by
gods and Rishis. And the lord of the celestials-that
slayer of hostile heroes—smelt the head
of Arjuna bending in humility, and even took him upon
his lap. Seated on Sakra’s seat at the command
of that god of a thousand eyes, Pritha’s son
of immeasurable energy began to blaze in splendour
like a second Indra. And moved by affection, the
slayer of Vritra, consoling Arjuna, touched his beautiful
face with his own perfumed hands. And the wielder
of the thunderbolt, patting and rubbing gently again
and again with his own hands which bore the marks of
the thunderbolt the handsome and huge arms of Arjuna
which resembled a couple of golden columns and which
were hard in consequence of drawing the bowstring
and son enhanced the beauty of the assembly, like the
sun and moon god of a thousand eyes—eyeing
his son of curly locks smilingly and with eyes expanded
with delight, seemed scarcely to be gratified.
The more he gazed, the more he liked to gaze on.
And seated on one seat, the father and son enhanced
the beauty of the assembly, like the sun and moon
beautifying the firmament together on the fourteenth
day of the dark fortnight. And a band of Gandharvas
headed by Tumvuru skilled in music sacred and profane,
sang many verses in melodious notes. And Ghritachi
and Menaka and Rambha and Purvachitti and Swayamprabha
and Urvasi and Misrakesi and Dandagauri and Varuthini
and Gopali and Sahajanya and Kumbhayoni and Prajagara