, "Having heard these words of the dispenser of wealth,
the Pandavas were well-pleased with them. Then lowering his club and
mace and sword and bow, that foremost of the Bharatas bowed down unto
_Kuvera_. And that giver of protection, the lord of treasures, seeing
him prostrate, said, 'Be thou the destroyer of the pride of foes, and
the enhancer of the delight of friends. And ye oppressors of enemies, do
ye live in our romantic region. The _Yakshas_ will not cross your
desires. Gudakesa, after having acquired mastery over weapons, will come
back soon. Bidden adieu by Maghavat himself, Dhananjaya will join you.'

"Having thus instructed Yudhishthira of excellent deeds, the lord of the
_Guhyakas_, vanished from that best of mountains. And thousands upon
thousands of _Yakshas_, and _Rakshasas_ followed him in vehicles spread
over with checkered cushions, and decorated with various jewels. And as
the horses proceeded towards the abode of Kuvera, a noise arose as of
birds flying in the air. And the chargers of the lord of treasures
speedily coursed through the sky as if drawing forward the firmament,
and devouring the air.

"Then at the command of the lord of wealth, the dead bodies of the
_Rakshasas_ were removed from the summit of the mountain. As the
intelligent Agastya had fixed this period as the limit of (the duration
of) his curse, so being slain in conflict, the _Rakshasas_ were freed
from the imprecation. And being honoured by the _Rakshasas_, the
Pandavas for several nights dwelt pleasantly in those habitations."

SECTION CLXII

Vaisampayana continued, "Then, O represser of foes, at sunrise, having
finished his daily devotions, _Dhaumya_ came unto the Pandavas, with
_Arshtishena_. And having bowed down unto the feet of Arshtishena and
Dhaumya, they with joined hands paid homage unto all the Brahmanas. Then
Dhaumya taking Yudhishthira's right hand, said these words, looking at
the east, 'O mighty monarch, this king of mountains, Mandara lieth vast,
covering the earth up to the ocean. O Pandava, Indra and Vaisravana
preside over this point graced with woods and forests and mountains.
And, O child, the intelligent sages versed in every duty, say, that this
(region) is the abode of Indra and king Vaisravana. And the twice-born
ones, and the sages versed in the duties, and the _Sidhas_, and the
_Sadhyas_, and the celestials pay their adorations unto the Sun as he
riseth from this point. And that lord of all living