lotus-lake girt with lines of lotuses, like unto a
second Sree in an embodied form wearing garlands.
And in this excellent forest there are beautiful ranges
of woods, rich with the aroma of various blossoms,
and hummed over by the black bees. And, O Bhima,
behold on all sides the excellent sporting ground of
the celestials. By coming here, we have attained
extra-human state, and been blessed. O Partha,
on these slopes of the Gandhamadana, yon beautiful
blossoming trees, being embraced by creepers with blossoms
at their tops, look lovely. And, O Bhima, hark
unto the notes of the peacocks crying with their hens
on the mountain slopes. And birds such as chakoras,
and satapatras, and maddened kokilas, and parrots,
are alighting on these excellent flowering trees.
And sitting on the twigs, myriads of jivajivakas of
scarlet, yellow 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 rabit, 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.”