of his father from the depths of the ocean. Then the story of Yavakrita,
and then that of the great Raivya: then the departure (of the Pandavas)
for Gandhamadana and their abode in the asylum called Narayana; then
Bhimasena's journey to Gandhamadana at the request of Draupadi (in search
of the sweet-scented flower). Bhima's meeting on his way, in a grove of
bananas, with Hanuman, the son of Pavana of great prowess; Bhima's bath in
the tank and the destruction of the flowers therein for obtaining the
sweet-scented flower (he was in search of); his consequent battle with the
mighty Rakshasas and the Yakshas of great prowess including Hanuman; the
destruction of the Asura Jata by Bhima; the meeting (of the Pandavas) with
the royal sage Vrishaparva; their departure for the asylum of Arshtishena
and abode therein: the incitement of Bhima (to acts of vengeance) by
Draupadi. Then is narrated the ascent on the hills of Kailasa by Bhimasena,
his terrific battle with the mighty Yakshas headed by Hanuman; then the
meeting of the Pandavas with Vaisravana (Kuvera), and the meeting with
Arjuna after he had obtained for the purpose of Yudhishthira many
celestial weapons; then Arjuna's terrible encounter with the
Nivatakavachas dwelling in Hiranyaparva, and also with the Paulomas, and
the Kalakeyas; their destruction at the hands of Arjuna; the commencement
of the display of the celestial weapons by Arjuna before Yudhishthira, the
prevention of the same by Narada; the descent of the Pandavas from
Gandhamadana; the seizure of Bhima in the forest by a mighty serpent huge
as the mountain; his release from the coils of the snake, upon
Yudhishthira's answering certain questions; the return of the Pandavas to
the Kamyaka woods. Here is described the reappearance of Vasudeva to see
the mighty sons of Pandu; the arrival of Markandeya, and various recitals,
the history of Prithu the son of Vena recited by the great Rishi; the
stories of Saraswati and the Rishi Tarkhya. After these, is the story of
Matsya; other old stories recited by Markandeya; the stories of
Indradyumna and Dhundhumara; then the history of the chaste wife; the