Section CLVIII

Vaisampayana continued, "Having approached that one, whose sins had been consumed by asceticism, Yudhishthira announced his name, and gladly greeted him, bending his head. And then Krishna, and Bhima, and the devout twins, having bowed down their heads unto the royal sage, stood (there) surrounding him. And that priest of the Pandavas, the virtuous Dhaumya, also duly approached that vow-observing sage. And by his prophetic eye that virtuous Muni had already known (the identity of) those foremost of the Kurus, the sons of Pandu.

And he said unto them. 'Be you seated.'

And that one of rigid austerities, after having duly received that chief of the Kurus, when the latter with his brothers had seated himself enquired after his welfare saying,

'Dost you not turn your inclination upon untruth? And art you intent upon virtue? And. O Partha, has not your attention to your father and your mother diminished? Are all your superiors, and the aged, and those versed in the Vedas, honoured by you?

And O Pritha’s son, dost you not turn your inclination unto sinful acts? And dost you, O best of the Kurus, properly know how to perform meritorious acts, and to eschew wicked deeds?

Dost you not exalt thyself? And are pious men gratified, being honoured by you? And even dwelling in the woods, dost you follow virtue alone? And, O Partha, does not Dhaumya grieve at your conduct?

Dost you follow the customs of your ancestors, by charity, and religious observances, and asceticism, and purity, and candour, and forgiveness? And dost you go along the way taken by the royal sages?

On the birth of a son in their (respective) lines, the Pitris in their regions, both laugh and grieve, thinking—Will the sinful acts of this son of ours harm us, or will meritorious deeds conduce to our welfare? He conquers both the worlds that pays homage unto his father, and mother, and preceptor, and Agni, and fifthly, the soul.'

Yudhishthira said,

'O worshipful one, those duties have been mentioned by you as excellent. To the best of my power I duly and properly discharge them.'

Arshtishena said,

'During the Parvas sages subsisting on air and water come unto this best of the mountains ranging through the air. And on the summits of the mountain are seen amorous Kimpurushas with their paramours, mutually attached unto each other; as also, O Partha, many Gandharvas and Apsaras clad in white silk vestments; and lovely-looking Vidyadharas, wearing garlands; and mighty Nagas, and Suparnas, and Uragas, and others.

And on the summits of the mountain are heard, during the Parvas, sounds of kettle-drums, and tabors, shells and mridangas. O foremost of the Bharatas, even by staying here, you shall hear those sounds; do you by no means feel inclined to repair thither. Further, O best of the Bharata race, it is impossible, to proceed beyond this. That place is the sporting-region of the celestials. There is no access thither for mortals.

O Bharata, at this place all creatures bear ill-will to, and the Rakshasas chastise, that man who commits aggression, be it ever so little. Beyond the summit of this Kailasa cliff, is seen the path of the celestial sages. If any one through impudence goes beyond this, the Rakshasas slay him with iron darts and other weapons.

There, O child, during the Parvas, he that goes about on the shoulders of men, even Vaisravana is seen in pomp and grandeur surrounded by the Apsaras. And when that lord of all the Rakshasas is seated on the summit, all creatures behold him like unto the sun arisen, O best of Bharatas, that summit is the sporting-garden of the celestials, and the Danavas, and the Siddhas, and Vaisravana. And during the Parvas, as Tumburu entertains the Lord of treasures, the sweet notes of his song are heard all over the Gandhamadana.

O child, O Yudhishthira, here during the Parvas, all creatures see and hear marvels like this. O Pandavas, till you meet with Arjuna, do you stay here, partaking of luscious fruits, and the food of the Munis. O child as you have come hither, do you not betray any impertinence. And, O child, after living here at your will and diverting thyself as you listest, you will at length rule the earth, having conquered it by the force of your arms.'"