Arjuna Meets and Is Embraced by Indra
Arjuna descends from his chariot and sees his father Indra seated on the throne of heaven. He bows his head. Indra embraces him, lifts him onto his lap, and then seats him on the sacred throne itself — a sign of acceptance that makes the assembly hall shine like the sun and moon together.
Arjuna descended from the supreme chariot and saw him in person.
Shatakratu, the performer of a hundred sacrifices. The god Indra, the chastiser of Paka, the king of the gods, the destroyer of enemies. A beautiful white umbrella with a golden staff was held above his head. A divinely-scented fan whisked the air around him. Vishvavasu and the other gandharvas praised him, and foremost brahmanas chanted from the Rig, Yajur, and Sama Vedas.
Arjuna approached. The mighty Kounteya lowered his head.
Shakra embraced him with his round arms. He grasped him by the hand and made him sit on Shakra's sacred throne — the throne worshipped by the gods and the devarshis (divine sages). But even that was not enough. When Arjuna bowed in obeisance, Indra of the gods, the slayer of enemy warriors, smelt his forehead and made him sit on his lap.
At the command of the god with the thousand eyes, Partha — whose soul was immeasurable — sat on Shakra's throne and appeared like a second Vasava.
Vritra's enemy touched Arjuna's handsome face with his sacred and fragrant hands and pacified him. He gently caressed his long arms — hardened by the string of the bow, as handsome as golden columns. The destroyer of Bala repeatedly caressed those arms with hands that were marked from holding the vajra (the thunderbolt).
The one with a thousand eyes kept looking at Gudakesha with a smile. His eyes dilated with delight and were not satisfied.
Seated on the same seat, they made the assembly hall shine — like the sun and the moon rising together in the sky on chaturdashi (the fourteenth day of the lunar fortnight). Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 341