The Pandavas Journey to Vrishaparva's Hermitage
Yudhishthira sets out north with his brothers, Draupadi, the brahmanas, Lomasha, and the rakshasas including Hidimba's son. They travel partly on foot and partly carried by the rakshasas, crossing mountains and difficult terrain, until on the seventeenth day they reach the sacred hermitage of the rajarshi Vrishaparva near Gandhamadana.
Yudhishthira departed with his brothers and the brahmanas. Draupadi accompanied him, and behind them came Hidimba's son and the other rakshasas. Lomasha walked at their side, a guardian.
They travelled part of the way on foot. In other parts, the rakshasas carried them — Yudhishthira and his brothers lifted and borne forward by beings whose strength was not human. The king reflected on the many difficulties ahead and kept heading north, into a region infested with lions, tigers, and elephants.
They saw the mountain Mainaka. They saw Kailasa, the peak of silver and crystal. They passed the foothills of Gandhamadana and the tall peak of Meru. There were auspicious streams higher up on the mountains, clear and cold. On the seventeenth day, they reached the sacred plateau of the Himalayas.
Near Gandhamadana, Yudhishthira saw the crest of the Himalayas, covered with trees and creepers. And there, surrounded by blossoming trees that grew along whirlpools of water, stood the hermitage of Vrishaparva.
The rajarshi (royal sage) Vrishaparva welcomed them. When he received them, their exhaustion vanished. He treated those bulls of the Bharata lineage as if they were his own sons. They stayed for seven nights.
On the eighth day, after consulting Vrishaparva, they decided to continue their journey. One by one, they introduced the brahmanas to him. Vrishaparva honoured them, and they remained in his charge for the moment, like relatives. The Pandavas also left their finest garments and pure ornaments in Vrishaparva's hermitage for safekeeping.
Vrishaparva was learned, skilled, knowledgeable in everything concerning dharma. He knew the past and the future. He instructed the Pandavas like his own sons. Having obtained his permission, the brave ones left in a northern direction, accompanied by Draupadi and the great-souled brahmanas.
King Vrishaparva went with them for a short distance. Then, entrusting the Pandavas to the immensely energetic brahmanas, instructing and blessing the sons of Kunti, he gave them directions about the road ahead and returned. Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 452