सलिलावर्तसंजातैः पुष्पितैश्च महीरुहैः। समावृतं पुण्यतममाश्रमं वृषपर्वणः
They saw the most sacred hermitage of Vrishaparva, surrounded by flowering trees and waters swirling in eddies.
तमुपक्रम्य राजर्षिं धर्मात्मानमरिंदमाः। पाण्डवा वृषपर्वाणमवदन्त गतक्लमाः
Approaching that royal sage, the righteous and mighty Pandavas spoke to Vrishaparva, their fatigue gone.
अभ्यनन्दत्स राजर्षिः पुत्रवद्भरतर्षभान्। पूजिताश्चावसंस्तत्रसप्तरात्रमरिंदमाः
That royal sage welcomed the illustrious Pandavas like his own sons, and they, honored, stayed there for seven nights.
अष्टमेऽहनि संप्राप्ते तमृषिं लोकविश्रुतम्। आमन्त्र्य वृषपर्वाणं प्रस्थानं प्रत्यरोचयन्
When the eighth day arrived, they took leave of the renowned sage Vrishaparva and prepared for their departure.
एकैकशश्च तान्विप्रान्निवेद्य वृषपर्वणि। न्यासभूतान्यथाकालं बन्धूनिव सुसत्कृतान्। पारिबर्हं चतं शेषं परिदाय महात्मने
Each of the Pandavas, having entrusted their Brahmin companions to Vrishaparva for safekeeping and proper hospitality, gave the remaining provisions to the great sage.
ततस्ते यज्ञपात्राणि रत्नान्याभरणानि च। न्यदधुःपाण्डवा राजन्नाश्रमे वृषपर्वणः
Then, O King, the Pandavas deposited their sacrificial vessels, jewels, and ornaments in the hermitage of Vrishaparva.
अतीतानागते विद्वान्कुशलः सर्वधर्मवित्। अन्वशासत्स धर्मज्ञः पुत्रवद्भरतर्षभान्
Wise in past and future, skilled in all dharma, that sage instructed the Pandavas as a father would his sons.
तेऽनुज्ञाता महात्मानः प्रययुर्दिशमुत्तराम्। `कुष्णया सहिता वीरा ब्राह्मणैश्च महात्मभिः
Having received his permission, the noble Pandavas set out for the northern direction, accompanied by Draupadi and great-souled Brahmins.
तान्प्रस्थितानन्वगच्छद्वृषपर्वा महीपतीन्। उपन्यस् महातेजा विप्रेभ्यः पाण्डवांस्तदा
Vrishaparva, of great energy, followed the departing kings, introducing the Pandavas to the Brahmins at that time.
अनुसंसार्य कौन्तेयानाशीर्भिरभिनन्द्य च। वृषपर्वा निववृतेपन्थानमुपदिश्य च
Having blessed and congratulated the sons of Kunti, and showing them the path, Vrishaparva turned back.
नानामृगगणैर्जुष्टं कौन्तेयः सत्यविक्रमः। पदातिर्भ्रातृभिः सार्धं प्रातिष्ठत युधिष्ठिरः
Yudhishthira, true in valor, together with his brothers, proceeded on foot through regions frequented by many kinds of animals.
नानाद्रुमनिरोधेषु वसन्तः शैलसानुषु। पर्वतं विविशुस्ते तं चतुर्थेऽहनि पाण्डवाः
Dwelling among the mountain slopes, amidst groves of various trees and bamboo, the Pandavas entered that mountain on the fourth day.
महाभ्रघनसंकाशं सलिलोपहितं शुभम्। मणिकाञ्चनरम्यं च शैलं नानासमुच्छ्रयम्
They saw a splendid mountain, resembling a mass of great clouds, adorned with water, beautiful with gems and gold, and rising in many peaks.
रम्यं हिमवतः प्रस्थं बहुकन्दरनिर्झरम्। शिलाविभङ्गविकटं लतापादपसङ्कुलम्
They beheld the delightful plateau of the Himalaya, with many caves and waterfalls, rugged with broken rocks, thick with creepers and trees.
ते समासाद्यपन्थानं यतोक्तं वृषपर्वणा। अनुसस्रुर्यथोद्देशं पश्यन्तो विविधान्नगान्
Having reached the path indicated by Vrishaparva, they proceeded as directed, observing the various mountains.
उपर्युपरि शैलस्य गुहाः परमदुर्गमाः। सुदुर्गमांस्ते सुबहून्सुखेनैवाभिचक्रमुः
Above and above the mountain, there were caves most difficult to access; yet they easily traversed many of these extremely hard-to-reach caves.
धौम्यः कृष्णा च पार्ताश्च लोमशश्च महानृषिः। आगच्छन्सहितास्तत्रन कश्चिदपि हीयते
Dhaumya, Krishna, the sons of Pritha, and the great sage Lomasha—all arrived there together, and not a single one was left behind.
ते मृगद्विजसंघुष्टं नानाद्रुमलतायुतम्। शाखामृगगणैश्चैव सेवितं सुमनोरमम्
They reached a place resounding with the cries of deer and birds, adorned with various trees and creepers, and frequented by herds of monkeys—truly delightful to behold.
पुण्यं पद्मसरोपेतं सपल्वलमहावनम्। उपतस्थुर्महाभागा माल्यवतं महागिरिम्
That great forest, sacred and filled with lotus-covered lakes and marshes, was approached by those illustrious ones at the foot of the mighty mountain Malyavat.
ततः किंपुरुषावासं सिद्धचारणसेवितम्। ददृशुर्हृषरोमाणाः पर्वतं गन्धमादनम्
Then, their hair standing on end, they beheld the Gandhamadana mountain, the dwelling of Kimpurushas, frequented by Siddhas and Charanas.
विद्याधरानुचरितं किन्नरीभिस्तथैव च। गजसङ्घसमावासं सिंहव्याघ्रगणायुतम्
It was inhabited by Vidyadharas, Kinnaras, and their consorts, as well as herds of elephants, and thronged with groups of lions and tigers.
शरभोन्नादसंघुष्टं नानमृगनिषेवितम्
The mountain echoed with the roars of Sharabhas and was frequented by many kinds of wild animals.
ते गन्धमादनवनं तन्नन्दनवनोपमम्। मुदिताः पाण्डुतनया मनोनयननन्दनम्
The sons of Pandu, delighted, entered the Gandhamadana forest, which resembled Nandana itself—a joy to the mind and eyes.
विविशुः क्रमशो वीरा अरण्यं शुभकाननम्। द्रौपदीसहिता वीरास्तैश्च विप्रैर्महात्मभिः
Step by step, the heroes, together with Draupadi and those great-souled sages, entered that beautiful and auspicious woodland.
शृण्वन्तः प्रीतिजननान्वल्गून्मन्दकलाञ्शुभान्। श्रोत्ररम्यान्सुमधुराञ्शब्दान्खगमुखेरितान्
They listened with pleasure to the sweet, gentle, and auspicious notes—charming to the ear—produced by birds.
सर्वर्तुफलभाराञ्यान्सर्वर्तुकुसुमोज्ज्वलाम्। पश्यन्तः पादपांस्चापि फलभारावनामितान्
They saw trees heavy with fruit in every season, radiant with blossoms in all seasons, their branches bowed down by the weight of their produce.
आम्रानाम्रातकान्फुल्लान्नारिकेलान्सतिन्दुकान्। मुञ्जातकांस्तथाञ्जीरान्दाडिमान्बीजपूरकान्
They beheld mangoes, wild mangoes in bloom, coconuts, tindukas, munjataka fruits, figs, pomegranates, and bijapuras.
पनसाँल्लिकुचान्मोचाः खर्जूरानम्लवेतसान्। परावतांस्तथा क्षौद्रानीपांश्चापि मनोरमान्
Jackfruits, litchis, plantains, dates, amlavetas, paravata fruits, honeycombs, and delightful nipa trees were also seen.
बेल्वान्कपित्थाञ्जम्बूश्च काश्मरीर्ब्रदरीस्तथा। पुक्षानुदुम्बरवटानश्वत्थान्क्षीरिकास्तथा
They saw bael, wood apples, jambus, kashmaris, bradaris, pukshas, udumbaras, banyans, asvatthas, and milky trees as well.
मल्लातकानामलकीर्हरीतकबिभीतकान्। इङ्गुदान्करमर्दांश्च तिन्दुकांश् महाफलान्
There were mallataka, amalaki, haritaki, bibhitaka, inguda, karamarda, tinduka, and other great-fruited trees.