Yudhishthira Describes the Scenery to Bhima
Seeing the beautiful region of Gandhamadana, Yudhishthira addresses Bhima in affectionate words, pointing out the trees, birds, elephants, lakes, waterfalls, minerals, gandharvas, kimpurushas, and the river Ganga. He expresses delight at having traversed a path no human has followed. They then see the hermitage of rajarshi Arshtishena and go to the sage.
On seeing those trees on that supreme of mountains, Yudhishthira told Bhimasena in affectionate words:
"O Bhima! Look at this beautiful region all around us, the playground of the gods. We followed a path no human has followed. O Vrikodara! We have achieved success.
"O Partha! Creepers, lantanas, and blossoms embrace the supreme of trees and adorn Gandhamadana's peak. O Bhima! Listen to the sound of the calls of peacocks, together with peahens, on the peak of this mountain. Chakoras, shatapatras, intoxicated cuckoos, and sarikas are perching themselves on these gigantic trees, full of foliage and flowers.
"O Partha! The birds are scarlet, yellow, and red, on the tops of the trees. Many other jivas and jivakas are glancing at each other. Cranes can be seen on the green and red spots of grass that are everywhere and near the mountain springs. They are warbling in a beautiful voice, charming to all beings. There are bees, ruddy geese, and birds with backs tinged in red.
"There are elephants with four tusks, with the hue of lotuses, and with the she-elephants. This great lake is beautiful, tinged with the hue of lapis lazuli. Water streams down from many waterfalls. O Bhima! They shine like the sun and are like autumn clouds. They adorn this giant mountain, with much silver and many minerals.
"In some places, it is dark like collyrium. In others, it is golden. In some places, the minerals are greenish yellow. In others, they have the complexion of ingudas. There are mountainous caverns that have the hue of evening clouds. Some are as red as rabbits. Other minerals are golden red. They are white and black, like clouds with the rays of the rising sun. In their many different forms, they are bringing great radiance to the mountain.
"O Partha! As Vrishaparva had said, gandharvas can be seen on the peak of the mountain, together with their wives, and kimpurushas. O Bhima! The sounds of songs, melodies, and hymns can be heard in many ways, charming to all beings.
"Behold the great, pure, and auspicious Ganga, the river of the gods. It is full of masses of swans and is frequented by rishis and kinnaras.
"O Kounteya! O destroyer of enemies! Behold this king of mountains, full of minerals, streams, kinnaras, animals, birds, gandharvas, apsaras, lovely woods, many types of predators, and with a hundred different peaks."
Those brave ones, the scorchers of enemies, were delighted in their minds at having traversed that supreme path, and their hearts were not satisfied at looking at this king of the mountains. They then saw the hermitage of rajarshi Arshtishena, full of garlands and trees laden with fruit. They went to the sage Arshtishena, who was learned in dharma and was so severe in his austerities that he was lean and seemed to be made up of veins alone. Aranyaka Parva, Chapter 452