वैशम्पायन उवाच युधिष्ठिरस्तमासाद्य तपसा दग्धकिल्बिषम्। अभ्यवादयत प्रीतः शिरसा नाम कीर्तयन्॥
Having approached him (Arstisena) whose sins were consumed by austerities and having announced his name, Yudhishthira with great pleasure bowed down to him by bending his head.
ततः कृष्णा च भीमश्च यमौ च सुतपस्विनौ। शिरोभिः प्राप्य राजर्षि परिवार्योपतस्थिरे॥
Then Krishna and Bhima and the twins of good devotion, having bowed down to that royal sage with their heads, stood surrounding him.
तथैवधौम्योधर्मज्ञः पाण्डवानां पुरोहितः। यथान्यायमुपाक्रान्तस्तमृषि संशितव्रतम्॥ कच्चित् ते
And then the virtuous Dhaumya the priest of the Pandavas, duly approached the vowobserving sage.
अन्वजानात् सधर्मज्ञो मुनिर्दिव्येन चक्षुषा। पाण्डोः पुत्रान् कुरुश्रेष्ठानास्यतामिति चाब्रवीत्॥
Knowing these Pandavas, the best of the Kurus-by his spiritual eye, that virtuous one said to them “be seated".
कुरूणामृषभं पार्थं पूजयित्वा महातपाः। सह भ्रातृभिरासीनं पर्यपृच्छदनामयम्॥
Then that one of great devotion having welcomed Partha, the best of the Kurus, who had taken his seat with his brothers, inquired after his welfare saying,
नानृते कुरुषे भावं कच्चिद्धर्मे प्रवर्तसे। मातापित्रोश्च ते वृत्तिः कच्चित् पार्थ न सीदति॥
“Do you not turn your mind towards untruth? Are you inclined towards virtue? Are not your respect and duties towards your parents falling off?
गुरवः सर्वे वृद्धा वैद्याश्च पूजिताः। कच्चिन्न कुरुषे भावं पार्थ पापेषु कर्मसु॥
Are all your superiors and elders and those versed in the Vedas honoured by you? Do you not incline your mind towards sinful acts?
सुकृतं प्रतिकर्तुं च कच्चिद्धातुं च दुष्कृतम्। यथान्यायं कुरुश्रेष्ठ जानासि न विकत्यसे॥
Ó best of the Kurus, do you properly know how to perform praiseworthy acts and how to avoid wicked ones? Are you not selfconceited?
यथार्ह मानिताः कच्चित् त्वया नन्दन्ति साधवः। वनेष्वपि वसन् कच्चिद्धर्ममेवानुवर्तसे॥
Do the virtuous rejoice in being honoured by you? Do you follow virtue though dwelling in the forests?
कच्चिद्धौम्यस्त्वदाचारैर्न पार्थ परितप्यते। दानधर्मतप:शौचैरार्जवेन तितिक्षया॥ पितृपैतामहं वृत्तं कच्चित् पार्थानुवर्तसे। कच्चिद् राजर्षियातेन पथा गच्छसि पाण्डव॥
O Partha, are not Dhaumya pained by your treatment of him? Do you follow in the footsteps of your forefathers by practicing charity, religious observances, devotion, purity, candour and forgiveness? Do you follow the example of the royal sages?
स्वे स्वे किल कुले जाते पुत्रे नप्तरि वा पुनः। पितरः पितृलोकस्था: शोचन्ति च हसन्ति च॥
On a son or a grandson being born in their (respective) families, our ancestors in the Pitris region, either grieve or rejoice, thinking,
किं तस्य दुष्कृतेऽस्माभिः सम्प्राप्तव्यं भविष्यति। किं चास्य सुकृतेऽस्माभिः प्राप्तव्यमिति शोभनम्॥
That they will be either harmed by his sinful acts or be benefited by his meritorious deeds,
पिता माता तथैवाग्निर्गुरुरात्मा च पञ्चमः। यस्यैते पूजिताः पार्थ तस्या लोकावुभौ जितौ॥
He who honours his father and mother and religious guide and Agni and fifthly his soul, conquers both the worlds."
युधिष्ठिर उवाच भगवन्नार्थ माहैतद् यथावद्धर्मनिश्चयम्। यथाशक्ति यथान्यायं क्रियते विधिवन्मया॥
Yudhishthira said: O adorable one, the duties just mentioned by you are indeed excellent and I perform them properly to the best of my ability.
आष्टिषेण उवाच अभक्षा वायुभक्षाश्च प्लवमाना विहायसा। जुषन्ते पर्वतश्रेष्ठमृषयः पर्वसंधिषु॥
Arstisena said: During the Parvas, sages living on air and water visit this prince of mountains, ranging through the skies.
कामिनः सह कान्ताभिः परस्परमनुव्रताः। दृश्यन्ते शैलशृङ्गस्था यथा किम्पुरुषा नृप॥
O King, amorous persons with their sweet hearts mutually enamoured of one another and Kimpurushas are seen on the summits of this mountain.
अरजांसि च वासांसि वसानाः कौशिकानि च। दृश्यन्ते बहवः पार्थ गन्धर्वाप्सरसां गणाः॥
O Partha, numerous Apsaras and Gandharvas attired in white silk garments are also to be found here,
विद्याधरगणाश्चैव स्रग्विणः प्रियदर्शनाः। महोरगगणाश्चैव सुपर्णाश्चोरगादयः॥
Together with good looking Vidyadharas adorned with garlands and also mighty Uragas, Suparnas and other Uragas.
अस्य चोपरि शैलस्य श्रूयते पर्वसंधिषु। भेरीपणपवशङ्खानां मृदङ्गानां च निःस्वनः॥
And during the Parvas sounds of kettledrums, tabors and shells are heard on the summits of the mountain.
इहस्थैरेव तत् सर्वं श्रोतव्यं भरतर्षभाः। न कार्या वः कथंचित् स्यात् तत्राभिगमने मतिः॥
O most exalted of the Bharatas all these are heard even from this place. Do you by no means, have a mind to go thither.
न चाप्यतः परं शक्यं गन्तुं भरतसत्तमाः। विहारो ह्यत्र देवानाममानुषगतिस्तु सा॥
O most excellent of the Bharatas, it is impossible to proceed beyond this. That place being the sporting-ground of the celestials, men can have no access there.
ईषच्चपलकर्माणं मनुष्यमिह भारत। द्विषन्ति सर्वभूतानि ताडयन्ति च राक्षसाः॥
At this place, O Bharata all creatures are hostile to and the Rakshasas chastise that man who may have even the very slightest presumption.
अस्यातिक्रम्य शिखरं कैलासस्य युधिष्ठिर। गतिः परमसिद्धानां देवर्षीणां प्रकाशते॥
O Yudhishthira, beyond the summit of the Kailasa the path of the divine sages all whose desire have been fulfilled, is visible.
चापलादिह गच्छन्तं पार्थ यानमितः परम्। अयः शूलादिभिर्जन्ति राक्षसाः शत्रुसूदन॥
O destroyer of foes, if any one impudently goes beyond this, the Rakshasas kill him with iron darts and other weapons,
अप्सरोभिः परिवृतः समृद्ध्या नरवाहनः। इह वैश्रवणस्तात पर्वसंधिषु दृश्यते॥
Here too, O affectionate one, during the Parvas is seen Vaisravana (Kubera), carried on the shoulders of men, possessed of vast wealth and surrounded by Apsaras.
शिखरस्थं समासीनमधिपं यक्षरक्षसाम्। प्रेक्षन्ते सर्वभूतानि भानुमन्तमिवोदितम्॥
All the creatures then behold the King of the Rakshasas seated on the summit and looking like the sun just risen
देवदानवसिद्धानां तथा वैश्रवणस्य च। गिरेः शिखरमुद्यानमिदं भरतसत्तम।॥
O best of the Bharatas, that summit of the mountain is the sporting garden of all the Devas (gods) Danavas (demons) Siddhas and of Vaishrvana alike.
उपासीनस्यधनदं तुम्बुरोः पर्वसंधिषु। गीतसामस्वनस्तात श्रूयते गन्धमादने॥
O affectionate one, during the Parvas, when Tambura worships the Lord of wealth, his chanting of the verses of the Samaveda is heard all over the mountain Gandhamadana.
एतदेवंविधं चित्रमिह तात युधिष्ठिर। प्रेक्षन्ते सर्वभूतानि बहुशः पर्वसंधिषु॥
O affectionate one, O Yudhishthira, all souls in the Gandhamadana, observe these and similar wonders several times during the Parvas.
भुञ्जाना मुनिभोज्यानि रसवन्ति फलानि च। वसध्वं पाण्डवश्रेष्ठा यावदर्जुनदर्शनात्॥
O best of the Pandavas, remain here living on luscious fruits eaten by the sages, until you meet with Arjuna.
न तात चफ्लैर्भाव्यमिह प्राप्तैः कथंचन। उषित्वेह यथाकामं यथाश्रद्धं विहृत्य च। ततः शस्त्रजितां तात पृथिवीं पालयिष्यसि॥
O affectionate one, do not betray any restless spirit while remaining here. Dwelling here quite at ease and amusing yourself as you choose, you shall, in the long run, crushing your foes, by the prowess of your weapons, govern the earth. ones