Narayana

While Yudhishthira and Bhimasena are locked in conversation, Vyasa appears — having perceived Yudhishthira's hidden fear about the Kuru warriors. He promises to show how Bhishma, Drona, and the others can be legitimately killed, then teaches Yudhishthira the secret knowledge called pratismriti and tells him that Arjuna must go to the gods for weapons.

After a fierce battle in which Shiva, disguised as a hunter, wrestles Arjuna to a standstill, the god reveals himself. Pleased with Arjuna's penance and courage, Shiva offers him any boon. Arjuna asks for the Pashupata weapon — the Brahmashira — the divine missile that can destroy the universe, intending to use it against Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, and Karna.

Maharshi Lomasha travels to Indra's abode and sees Arjuna seated on half of Indra's throne. The sight puzzles him — how could a kshatriya, a mere warrior, attain such honor? Indra divines his thoughts and reveals the truth: Arjuna is Nara, the ancient rishi, and together with Narayana — Krishna — he has been born on earth to remove its burden and defeat the Nivatakavachas, asuras so powerful that even the gods cannot fight them.

As Yudhishthira journeys through the wilderness, the sage Lomasha begins describing the sacred sites that lie ahead — places where gods performed austerities, rivers served a rishi, and the Ganga herself splintered a mountain. Each spot carries its own history, and together they form a path that might lead the anxious king to peace.

The gods, led by Narayana, arrive at Dadhicha's hermitage on the banks of the Sarasvati — a place so beautiful it resembles heaven. They bow at his feet and ask for a boon: his bones. Dadhicha is delighted. He gives up his life willingly, and the gods carry his bones to Tvashtar, who fashions the vajra — the weapon that will shatter the enemies of heaven.

The valorous one's lake shines nearby, noisy with birds. The speaker advises Yudhishthira to offer oblations there with his brothers, then visit Sikataksha, the Saindhava forest, the pushkaras, and the three sacred peaks and springs on Mount Archika — where Shantanu, Shunaka, Nara, and Narayana obtained eternal regions.

The Pandavas descend from the rakshasas' shoulders and see the hermitage of Nara and Narayana — a place untouched by sunlight yet free of darkness, where hunger, thirst, cold, and heat do not exist. Yudhishthira approaches the maharshis with restraint and purity, and is welcomed with water, flowers, roots, and fruit. The Pandavas enter and dwell there, making offerings to gods and ancestors, and take great pleasure in watching Draupadi sport in that sacred place.

Bhima asks Hanuman about the ages of the world. Hanuman answers — describing how dharma decays across Krita, Treta, Dvapara, and Kali yugas, how Narayana's complexion changes with each age, and how beings deteriorate as the yugas progress. Then he tells Bhima to leave, advising him not to dwell on useless knowledge.

Markandeya tells Yudhishthira that the lotus-eyed god he witnessed in his cosmic vision is none other than Krishna Varshneya — the Pandava's own relative. He urges Yudhishthira to seek refuge with the one who grants protection.

Markandeya, pulled from the mouth of the cosmic being, hears Narayana declare his true nature: he is Vishnu, Brahma, Shakra, Yama, Shiva — all gods in one. He is the creator and destroyer, the one who sleeps through the ages and wakes to recreate the universe.