shtishena), that advice conducive to their welfare, those
foremost of the Bharatas, began to behave always accordingly. Those best
of men, the Pandavas, dwelt upon the Himavan, partaking of the food
eaten by the Munis, and luscious fruit, and the flesh of deer killed
with unpoisoned shafts and various kinds of pure honey. Living thus,
they passed the fifth year, hearing various stories told by Lomasa. O
lord, saying, 'I shall be present when occasion ariseth,' Ghatotkacha,
together with all the Rakshasas, had ere this already gone away. Those
magnanimous ones passed many months in the hermitage of Arshtishena,
witnessing many marvels. And as the Pandavas were sporting there
pleasantly, there came to see them some complacent vow-observing Munis
and Charanas of high fortune, and pure souls. And those foremost of the
Bharata race conversed with them on earthly topics. And it came to pass
that when several days has passed, Suparna all of a sudden carried off
an exceedingly powerful and mighty Naga, living in the large lake. And
thereupon that mighty mountain began to tremble, and the gigantic trees,
break. And all the creatures and the Pandavas witnessed the wonder. Then
from the brow of that excellent mountain, the wind brought before the
Pandavas various fragrant and fair blossoms. And the Pandavas, and the
illustrious Krishna, together with their friends, saw those unearthly
blossoms of five hues. And as the mighty-armed Bhimasena was seated at
ease upon the mountain, Krishna addressed him, saying, 'O best of the
Bharata race, in the presence of all the creatures, these flowers of
five hues, carried by the force of the wind raised by Suparna, are
falling in amain on the river Aswaratha. In Khandava thy high-souled
brother, firm in promise, had baffled Gandharvas and Nagas and Vasava
himself, and slain fierce Rakshasas, and also obtained the bow Gandiva.
Thou also art of exceeding prowess and the might of thy arms is great,
and irrepressible, and unbearable like unto the might of Sakra. O
Bhimasena, terrified with the force of thy arms, let all the Rakshasas
betake themselves to the ten cardinal points, leaving the mountain. Then
will thy friends be freed from fear and affliction, and behold the
auspicious summit of this excellent mountain furnished with variegated
flowers. O Bhima, I have for long cherished this thought in my
mind,--that protected by the might of thy arms, I shall see that
summit.'

"Thereupon, like a hi