Pandavas Depart for the Tirthas with Blessings
Yudhishthira resolves to leave Kamyaka forest and begin the pilgrimage to the sacred tirthas. Before they can depart, Vyasa, Narada, and Parvata appear — three of the most powerful sages in existence — and give them instructions that go beyond mere travel: purify your minds, control your bodies, and go with friendship in your hearts. The Pandavas receive their blessings and, at the auspicious moment, set out eastward with their servants and chariots.
Yudhishthira had made his decision. With Lomasha's permission and the approval of his priest Dhoumya, the eldest Pandava resolved to leave Kamyaka forest and begin the pilgrimage to the sacred tirthas. He would go with his brothers and with Draupadi, whose form remained unblemished even after everything they had endured.
But before they could depart, three figures appeared in the forest clearing — Vyasa, Narada, and Parvata, all of them immensely fortunate, all of them extremely intelligent, all of them desirous of seeing the Pandavas.
Yudhishthira worshipped them according to the proper rites. When the sages had been honoured, they spoke.
"O Yudhishthira! O twins! O Bhima! Banish all that is evil from your minds. Be clean and pure and go to the tirthas. The brahmanas have said that control of the body is the vow for humans. The brahmanas say that purification of the mind and the intelligence is the vow for gods. O lord of men! A mind that is clean is enough for brave ones. Therefore, bear friendship in your minds and purified, go to the tirthas. Use your mental powers to purify and control your bodies through vows. Resort to the vows of the gods and you will obtain the fruits that have been recounted."
The Pandavas and Draupadi promised that it would be so.
Their journey was blessed by all the sages — divine and human. The Pandavas touched Lomasha's feet, and the feet of Dvaipayana Vyasa, and the feet of Narada, and the feet of the devarshi Parvata. Accompanied by Dhoumya and the other denizens of the forest, they prepared to depart.
The moment came when the full moon night of Margashirsha was over and the constellation Pushya was in the ascendant — an auspicious time for beginning a journey.
They dressed in tough bark and deerskin. Their hair was matted. They wore impenetrable armour. They tied their swords at their waists and filled their quivers with arrows. Indrasena and the other servants accompanied them, along with fourteen chariots and attendants in charge of food.
With their faces turned toward the east, the brave Pandavas set out. Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 388