Pandavas Enter Nara-Narayana's Hermitage

The rakshasas descended slowly, lowering the Pandavas and the brahmanas gently to the ground. The party stood at the edge of the hermitage of Nara and Narayana — the two ancient rishis, born of the god Dharma himself, who were said to be the original ancestors of all beings. What they saw was unlike anything they had encountered. The hermitage was full of celestial trees that always bore flowers and fruit. At its center stood the Badari tree — the jujube tree from which the place took its name — with a circular trunk, always tender, offering unfettered shade. Its branches were large and expansive, limitless in lustre. Its fruit was tasty and divine, dripping with honey. Masses of different kinds of birds frolicked madly among its leaves. The place was free of mosquitoes and gnats. There were many roots and fruits and abundant water. The ground was covered with blue grass and was naturally beautiful, gentle from the touch of snow, bereft of thorns. The hermitage was sacred — devoid of darkness, though it was untouched by the sun's rays. It was free from afflictions like hunger, thirst, coldness, and heat. It was the destroyer of all sorrow. It was crowded by masses of maharshis (great sages) and complete with the attainment of the brahman (the ultimate reality). It was difficult of access to men who were outside the pale of dharma. The sages who lived there were like the sun and the fire in their austerities. They were controlled in their souls, their senses restrained, their minds fixed on salvation. They were attired in bark and black antelope skins. They lived on roots and fruit. They were learned in the brahman and immersed in the brahman. Yudhishthira approached them with restraint and purity, his brothers beside him. The maharshis had divine sight. When they saw Yudhishthira, they welcomed him with great delight. Those who were always devoted to studies pronounced their blessings over him. They were the equal of the fire, and they happily welcomed him in accordance with the prescribed rites. They offered him pure water, flowers, roots, and fruit. Yudhishthira accepted the offerings with restraint. Together with Draupadi and his brothers, and the brahmanas learned in the Vedas and the Vedangas (the auxiliary sciences of the Vedas), Yudhishthira entered the pure place that was like heaven itself. Inside, he saw Nara and Narayana's spot — worshipped by the gods and the devarshis (divine sages). It was rendered beautiful by the Bhagirathi, the sacred river Ganga in her heavenly form. The divine fruit dripped with honey. He saw Mount Mainaka with its golden peak, frequented by masses of brahmanas. He saw the auspicious Bindusara and the sacred great tirtha (pilgrimage site) of Bhagirathi, with its cool and clear water, gems, corals, and stones, adorned with beautiful trees. The Pandavas roamed there. They made offerings to the gods and the ancestors repeatedly. The bulls among men dwelt there with the brahmanas. And they took great pleasure in watching Draupadi sport there in various ways — moving through that celestial place, her exhaustion gone, her spirit restored.