“Proceeding on, those heroes reached the sea of red waters.  Dhananjaya had not cast off his celestial bow Gandiva, nor his couple of inexhaustible quivers, actuated, O king, by the cupidity that attaches one to things of great value.  The Pandavas there beheld the deity of fire standing before them like a hill.  Closing their way, the god stood there in his embodied form.  The deity of seven flames then addressed the Pandavas, saying, Ye heroic sons of Pandu, know me for the deity of fire.  O mighty-armed Yudhishthira, O Bhimasena that art a scorcher of foes, O Arjuna, and ye twins of great courage, listen to what I say!  Ye foremost ones of Kurus race, I am the god of fire.  The forest of Khandava was burnt by me, through the puissance of Arjuna and of Narayana himself.  Let your brother Phalguna proceed to the woods after casting off Gandiva, that high weapon.  He has no longer any need of it.  That precious discus, which was with the high-souled Krishna, has disappeared (from the world).  When the time again comes, it will come back into his hands.  This foremost of bows, Gandiva, was procured by me from Varuna for the use of Partha.  Let it be made over to Varuna himself.

“At this, all the brothers urged Dhananjaya to do what the deity said.  He then threw into the waters (of the sea) both the bow and the couple of inexhaustible quivers.  After this, O chief of Bharatas race, the god of the fire disappeared then and there.  The heroic sons of Pandu next proceeded with their faces turned towards the south.  Then, by the northern coast of the salt sea, those princes of Bharatas race proceeded to the south-west.  Turning next towards the west, they beheld the city of Dwaraka covered by the ocean.  Turning next to the north, those foremost ones proceeded on.  Observant of Yoga, they were desirous of making a round of the whole Earth.”

2

Vaishampayana said:  “Those princes of restrained souls and devoted to Yoga, proceeding to the north, beheld Himavat, that very large mountain.  Crossing the Himavat, they beheld a vast desert of sand.  They then saw the mighty mountain Meru, the foremost of all high-peaked mountains.  As those mighty ones were proceeding quickly, all rapt in Yoga, Yajnaseni, falling of from Yoga, dropped down on the Earth.  Beholding her fallen down, Bhimasena of great strength addressed king Yudhishthira the just, saying, O scorcher of foes, this princess never did any sinful act.  Tell us what the cause is for which Krishna has fallen down on the Earth!

“Yudhishthira said:  O best of men, though we were all equal unto her she had great partiality for Dhananjaya.  She obtains the fruit of that conduct today, O best of men.”

Vaishampayana continued:  “Having said this, that foremost one of Bharatas race proceeded on.  Of righteous soul, that foremost of men, endued with great intelligence, went on, with mind intent on itself.  Then Sahadeva of great learning fell down on the Earth.  Beholding him drop down, Bhima addressed the king, saying, He who with great humility used to serve us all, alas, why is that son of Madravati fallen down on the Earth?