Arjuna conquers northern lands and extracts tribute for the Rajasuya
Arjuna pushes north to gather tribute for his brother's imperial consecration, battling strange protectors and conquering lands of myth. At the border of the forbidden Northern Kurus, divine guardians bar his path, offering gifts instead of battle, and Arjuna must decide how far an emperor's reach can truly extend.
After crossing the white mountains, Arjuna arrived in the land of the Kimpurushas. They were protected by a being named Drumaputra. A great battle followed. Many kshatriyas (warriors) were slain, but the best of the Pandavas won and extracted his due tribute.
He then used his army and his own resolve to conquer the region known as Hataka, which was protected by the Guhyaka. Having won them over through conciliation, he set his sights on the supreme Lake Manasa, seeing all the sacred places of the rishis (sages) along the way. On reaching Manasa, the lord Pandava conquered the regions around Hataka that were protected by the gandharvas (celestial musicians). As tribute from their city, he obtained supreme horses — some the colour of partridges and speckled, with eyes like those of frogs.
The son of Indra, the chastiser of Paka, then arrived at the northern country of Harivarsha and wished to conquer it too.
On seeing him, doorkeepers appeared. They were giant in form, great in valour, and immense in strength. They smiled and told him, "O Partha! You are incapable of conquering this city in any way. O Achyuta! If you desire your own welfare, turn back. You already have enough. Any human who enters this city must certainly die. O valorous one! We are pleased with you. Your conquests are already many. O Arjuna! Nothing can be seen here that is left for you to conquer. This is the land of the Northern Kurus and there cannot be any wars here. O Kounteya! Even if you enter, you will not be able to see anything. Nothing that is here can be seen with human eyes. O tiger among men! O descendant of the Bharata lineage! However, if there is anything else that you wish, please tell us. We will do your bidding."
Having been thus addressed, Arjuna said, "I wish that the intelligent Dharmaraja should become an emperor. I shall not enter this land if it is restricted to humans. But let something be given by you as tribute to Yudhishthira."
Then they gave him divine garments, divine ornaments, and divine hides and skins as tribute.
Thus did that tiger among men conquer the northern regions. He fought many great battles, with kshatriyas and also with bandits. Having conquered those kings, he extracted tribute from them and obtained a lot of riches and many jewels, together with horses that had the colour of partridges, were speckled, or had the colour of parrot feathers or those of peacocks. They were all as swift as the wind. Surrounded by a gigantic fourfold army, the brave one returned again to the supreme city of Shakraprastha.