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 rabbit, 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."

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 Kris