Yudhishthira said: -
1. O Vrikodara, there are in this place, many invisible beings who are all powerful and huge. We shall however be able to pass through them by the merit of our Agnihotra and asceticism.
2. O son of Kunti, by collecting your prowess, restrain your hunger and thirst, O Vrikodara, have recourse to your strength and cleverness.
3. O son of Kunti, you have heard what the Rishi (Lomasha) has said about the Kailasa mountain. After due deliberation think, how Krishna (Draupadi) should pass through this place.
4-5. Or, O exalted Bhima of large eyes, you should better return with Sahadeva, with Dhaumya, with all our charioteers, cooks, servants, cars, horses and also the Brahmanas who are worn out with travel.
6. The great ascetic Lomasha, Nakula and I shall proceed living on light food and observing vows.
7. In expectation of my return, wait carefully at the source of the Ganges and protect Draupadi till I come back.
Bhima said: -
8. O descendant of Bharata, although this blessed princess is afflicted with toil she easily proceeds along in the hope of seeing Shvetavahana (Arjuna).
9. Your dejection also is very great at not seeing the high-souled Gudukesha (Arjuna) who never retreats from battle.
10. O descendant of Bharata, you will be more dejected if you do not see Sahadeva, Krishna (Draupadi) and myself. Let the Brahmanas return with our servants.
11. Charioteers, cooks and others whom you may command. I shall never leave you here.
12. In these rugged and inaccessible mountainous regions infested by Rakshashas. This greatly blessed princess, ever devoted to her husbands.
13. O foremost of men, will not return without you. This Sahadeva is always devoted to you
14-15. O great king, I know his character well; he will never return (without you). We are all eager to see Savyasachi (Arjuna) and Therefore, we will all go together. If we cannot go on our cars over this mountain of many defiles.
16. We shall walk on foot. O King, you need not trouble yourself about it. I shall carry the Panchala Princess, wherever and whenever she will be incapable of walking.
17. I have decided upon this; Therefore, do not trouble yourself about it. I shall carry these two heroes, the tender sons of Madri, the delight of their mother, over difficult tracts, wherever they will be incapable of walking.
Yudhishthira said: -
18. O Bhima, let your strength increase for your speaking thus. You boldly undertake to carry the illustrious Panchala princess.
19. And also the twin (Nakula and Sahadeva). Be blessed; such courage does not exist in others. May your strength, fame and virtue increase.
20. O mighty-armed hero, as you propose to carry our two brothers will Krishna (Draupadi), let not exhaustion or defeat come to you.
Vaishampayana said: -
21. Thereupon the charming Krishna (Draupadi) smilingly said, “O descendant of Bharata, I shall go you need be anxious for me.”
Lomasha said: -
22. O son of Kunti, one can go to Gandhamadana by asceticism; Therefore, we shall all practise asceticism.
23. O king, O son of Kunti, Nakula, Sahadeva, Bhimsena, you and myself then shall see Shvetavahana (Arjuna).
Vaishampayana said: -
24. O king, having thus conversed, they saw with delight the extensive kingdom of Suvaka abounding in horses and elephants.
25-26. Densely inhabited by the Kiratas and the Tanganas, crowded by hundred of Pulindas, frequented by the celestials and full of wonders. Seeing them Suvaka, the king of the Pulindas, received them in due honour and with great cheerfulness, on the frontier of his kingdom. They, too being thus received, lived there (for some time) with great comfort.
27-29. They started for the Himalaya mountain when the sun shone brightly in the sky. Having left in the care of the king of the Pulindas all their servants, Indrasena and others, also the cooks and stewards and also all accoutrements of Draupadi and also everything else, those mighty car-warriors, those greatly power-descendants of Kuru started for that country. They proceed cautiously with Krishna (Draupadi); they were all cheerful in the expectation of seeing Arjuna.
Thus ends the hundred and fortieth chapter, going to Gandhamadana, in the Tirthayatra of the Vana Parva.