Bhima Roams the Himalayan Forest

The Pandavas left the hermitage of King Vrishaparva and entered a forest that possessed many wonders. It was a beautiful place, frequented by gods and gandharvas (celestial musicians), and as soon as they arrived, Bhima — Vrikodara, the wolf-bellied one — began to roam as he wished, bow and sword in his hands. He saw the pure regions of the Himalaya mountains, visited by masses of apsaras (celestial dancers) and frequented by gods, rishis (sages), and siddhas (perfected beings). The forest resounded everywhere with the calls of chakoras, chakravaka birds, jivas, jivakas, cuckoos, and bhringarajas. It was covered with trees that were always full of flowers and fruit, tender because of the touch of snow. There was plenty of shade, and it was pleasant to the mind and the eye. He saw mountainous streams tinged with the colour of lapis lazuli. The water was touched by snow, and there were tens of thousands of geese and karandavas (waterfowl). There were forests of devadaru trees (sacred deodar pines) that seemed to act like a net for the clouds, mixed with yellow sandalwood and tall kaliyakas (a fragrant wood). He went hunting on the flat terrain of the desert. The immensely strong one shot the deer with arrows that were pure. And then, in the course of his wandering, he found a cavern in the mountain.