Hearing the caves of the mountains resound with various sounds and not seeing Bhimasena, Ajatshatru (Yudhishthira), the son of Kunti and both the sons of Madri and Dhaumya and Krishna together with all the friends (of the Pandavas) became sick at heart.

Thereupon leaving Draupadi under the care of Arstisena and furnished with weapons, those heroes and mighty car-warriors ascended the mountain.

Then those mighty car-warriors and great bowmen and tormentors of foes having reached the summit of the mountain and casting their looks around saw Bhimasena.

And those huge Rakshasas of vast strength and courage slaughtered by Bhimasena, many of whom were (still) moving and many lay dead.

And he (Bhima) of mighty arms, armed with mace, sword and bow looked like Maghavana (Indra) having slain all the Danavas in battle.

Then having seen their brother and having embraced him and having attained to excellent state, those mighty car-warriors the Parthas-sat down (there).

That summit with those four great bowmen (seated on it) appeared as grandly beautiful as the heaven (itself) with those foremost of the celestials, the highly fortunate Lokapalas.

(And) the lord of the Earth, (Yudhishthira), having beheld the abode of Kubera and those Rakshasas killed (by Bhima), addressed his brother (Bhima) who was seated, thus

"O Bhima, whether you have committed this sinful act through rashness or ignorance, it is as unworthy of you as falsehood of the ascetics.

Righteous men affirm that acts giving offence to the king ought not to be done; but, O Bhimasena, you have committed an act which will offend even the gods.

O Partha, he, who despising profit and virtue gives himself up to vice, is sure to pay the penalty of his sinful acts. If you look to my welfare, do not commit such (sinful) acts again."

Yudhishthira the virtuous highly energetic and firm-minded son of Kunti, versed in the particulars of the science of profit having addressed his brother (Bhima) thus, kept quiet and began to ponder upon the matter. On the other hand the survivors of the Rakshasas slain by Bhimasena,

Proceeded together towards the abode of Kubera. And they of great fleetness having hastily reached the abode of Kubera,

Began to utter loud wails of distress afflicted with the fear of Bhimasena. Casting off their weapons and wearied with their armour besmeared with blood,

And with dishevelled hair, O king, (they) addressed the lord of the Yakshas thus, "O lord, all your foremost Rakshasas who fought with maces, swords, clubs, glances and barbed darts, have all been slaughtered. O lord of wealth, a single man crushing the mountain with great velocity have alone killed in battle all the Rakshasas of the Krodhavara clan and also the best of the Rakshasas and the Yakshas (who) lie senseless with life extinct; we only have been spared; your friend Maniman too has been killed.

All this has been done by one man. Do what you think proper now." Hearing all this, the king of all the Yakshas in great anger,

And with eyes reddened with ire, exclaimed "what.” And the Lord of wealth hearing of Bhima's second offence,

Waxed wrath and then the king of the Yakshas said, "Yoke (the horses to the car)." Thereupon, (the attendants of Kubera) yoked to the car horses, wearing golden garlands, having the colour of dark clouds and high as a mountain summit. And those excellent horses of his, with clear eyes and endued with every noble quality.

And possessed of energy and strength and decorated with various gems and having grand appearance, being yoked to the car, looked as if desirous of speeding like the wind,

And began to send forth neighs at each other indicative of victory. (And) that resplendent and divine king of kings, ascending the mighty car and being eulogised by the celestials and the Gandharvas, set out. A thousand principal Yakshas, of reddened eyes, golden lustre and huge structure, possessed of vast strength and equipped with weapons and girding on their swords, followed the noble-minded lord of wealth and king of all the Yakshas.

(And) they (the horses) of great swiftness ranging through the firmament with great speed reached the Gandhamadanas as if drawing forward the sky.

The Pandavas then, with their hair standing on the end and with delight beheld that mighty array of horses maintained by the lord of wealth and also the noble-minded and graceful Kubera himself surrounded by the Yakshas and the Rakshasas. Kubera too, seeing those mighty car-warriors, the sons of Pandu, gifted with great strength and equipped with bows and swords, became pleased; and desirous of performing the task of the celestials was glad at heart.

They (the followers of Kubera) (then) alighted like birds on the summit of the mountain with great swiftness and with the lord of wealth at their head remained before them (the Pandavas).

Then, O Bharata, the Yakshas and Rakshasas seeing that he (Kubera) was well pleased with the Pandavas stood there with indifferent.

Then those mighty car-warriors, the highsouled Pandavas-Nakula, Sahadeva and the virtuous son of Dharma-having saluted that lord, the giver of wealth and having considered themselves as guilty, stood surrounding the lord of the wealth with joined hands.

That illustrious one (Kubera) was seated on that excellent seat the Pushpaka painted with various colours.

Thousands of Rakshasas and Yakshas of great fleetness and huge structure and having ears resembling javelins and hundreds of Gandharvas and Apsaras sat surrounding that one who seated the gods (sit surrounding the performer of hundred sacrifices (Indra).

Wearing an auspicious golden garland round his head and holding in his hands noose, sword and bow, Bhimasena began to look at the lord of wealth.

Bhimasena did not experience any depression of mind (either) on account of his being wounded by the Rakshasas (or) seeing Kubera in that state.

was as He that is carried on the shoulders of men seeing Bhima in a warlike attitudes and armed with sharpened arrows, addressed the son of Dharma thus,

O Partha, all the creatures are aware that you are actively intent on the welfare of the whole creation. (Therefore) dwell on the summit of this mountain without fear.

Nor, O Pandava, you ought to be angry with Bhimasena. They (the Rakshasas and Yakshas) were killed before by Destiny, your younger brother being merely the instrument.

Nor you ought to be ashamed at his act of rashness. The destruction of the Yakshas and the Rakshasas had been fore ordained by the celestials.

O the most exalted of the Bharatas, I am rather pleased than angry with Bhimasena-nay this act of Bhimasena has made me supremely happy.

Vaishampayana said : Having said to the king thus, (Kubera) spoke to Bhimasena, “O child, O the best of the Kurus, I do not (at all) mind it.

O Bhima, if disregarding the gods and relying on your own strength of arms you have committed this act of rashness-the destruction of the Yakshas and the Rakshasas-for the sake of Draupadi, I am the more pleased with you for that. O Vrikodara, I have been this day delivered from a terrible curse.

Formerly I was cursed by the great sage Agastya in anger for some offence. You have freed me from it by this act (of yours).

O son of Pandava, my disgrace was foreordained. O Pandava, no blame, therefore, in any way, can be attributed to you,

Yudhishthira said : O lord, what were you cursed by the nobleminded Agastya for? O God, I am desirous of hearing the cause of that imprecation.

It seems wonder to me that you were not at that very moment consumed by the anger of that wise Agastya together with all your forces and attendants.

The Lord of wealth said : O lord of men, once I was proceeding to Kushavati, where a Synod of the gods was being held, surrounded by three hundred Mahapadma terrible-looking Yakshas carrying various weapons. On my way, I beheld the most exalted of the sages Agastya practising rigid austerities on the banks of the Yamuna teeming with various birds and adorned with blossoming plants.

Beholding that mass of lustre, blazing and bright as fire, with upraised arms facing the sun, my illustrious friend Maniman, the lord of the Rakshasas, who was ranging through the firmament, O lord of the earth, through stupidity, foolishness arrogance and ignorance.

Spat on the head of that great sage. He (Agastya) as if burning all the cardinal points with his anger,

Said this 'O Lord of wealth, since your friend, this evil-minded one, despising me, has insulted me in your very presence,

He will, on that account, meet with his end together with his forces at the hands of a man. O evil-minded one, you too shall be sorely grieved at the death of your forces and shall be absolved from your sin on seeing that man.

(But) this terrible curse shall not touch those powerful sons and grandsons of your forces, that will remain obedient to your commands.

O king, I, who formerly received this imprecation from that most exalted of the Rishis, have been absolved from it by your brother Bhima.