t of the Bharatas, even by staying here, ye shall hear those
sounds; do ye 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 committeth
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 goeth beyond this, the Rakshasas slay him with iron darts and
other weapons. There, O child, during the Parvas, he that goeth 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 entertaineth 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 ye meet with Arjuna, do ye stay here,
partaking of luscious fruits, and the food of the Munis. O child as thou
hast come hither, do thou not betray any impertinence. And, O child,
after living here at thy will and diverting thyself as thou listest,
thou wilt at length rule the earth, having conquered it by the force of
thy arms.'"

SECTION CLIX

Janamejaya said, "How long did my great grandsires, the highsouled sons
of Pandu of matchless prowess, dwell in the Gandhamadana mountain? And
what did those exceedingly powerful ones, gifted with manliness, do? And
what was the food of those high-souled ones, when those heroes of the
worlds dwelt (there)? O excellent one, do thou relate all about this. Do
thou describe the prowess of Bhimasena, and what that mighty-armed one
did in the mountain Himalayan. Surely, O best of Brahmanas, he did not
fight again with the Yakshas. And did they meet with Vaisravana? Surely,
as Arshtishena said, the lord of wealth cometh thither. All this, O thou
of ascetic wealth, I desire to hear in detail. Surely, I have not yet
been fully satisfied by hearing about their acts."

Vaisampayana continued, "Having heard from that one of incomparable
energy, (Ar