Vaishampayana said:
1. Once upon a time, when those mighty car-warriors were thinking of Arjuna they were delighted at beholding the car of Mahendra, yoked with horses and bright as lightning approaching all on a sudden.
2. That flaming car, driven by Matali, suddenly illuminating the firmament, appeared like a mighty meteor hidden in clouds or like the smokeless and blazing tongues of fire.
3. Placed in that car, appeared Kirita wearing garlands and fresh ornaments. (Then) Dhananjaya, powerful as the wielder of the thunderbolt and blazing of beauty, alighted on (that) mountain.
4. Arriving at the mountain and descending from the car of Mahendra, that intelligent, one wearing a coronet and garlands, saluted the feet of Dhaumya first and then those of Ajatshatru Yudhishthira.
5. He (Arjuna) also bowed down to the feet of Vrikodara and was himself saluted by the (twin) sons of Madri. (And then) going to Krishna and consoling her, he stood before his brother (Yudhishthira) with humility.
6. Those present (there) were highly delighted at being joined with that peerless man (Arjuna). (And) beholding them he (Arjuna) too, who wore a coronet and garlands, was delighted and began to eulogise the king.
7. Beholding that car of Indra, placed in which the slayer of Namuchi had destroyed seven battalions of Diti's sons, those Parthas with rich spirits, went round it.
8. Those descendants of the king Kuru, being exceedingly delighted, paid excellent adoration to Matali, worthy of the lord of the celestials himself; and then duly inquired of him about the welfare of all the gods,
9. Matali too then greeted them and having instructed the Parthas as a father does his (own) sons, (he) returned to the lord of heaven, ascending that car of unrivalled splendour.
10-12. He (Matali) having departed, that foremost of the royal race-the slayer of all the foes-the noble-minded son of Shakra, made over to his sweet-heart-the mother of Sutashoma-those beautiful and precious gems and ornaments of sun-like splendour presented by Shakra. Then sitting amidst those best of the Kurus and those Brahmanas having the lustre of the sun or fire, he (Arjuna), narrated (to them) faithfully all that happened (to him in heaven). “In this way, I have learnt the (science of) arms from Shakra, Vayu and Shiva himself;
13-14. And have pleased all the gods together with Indra by humility and concentration.” Having in short related to them to his stay in heaven, Kirita of pure deeds slept pleasantly that night with the sons of Madri.”
Thus ends the hundred and sixty-fifth chapter, of the return of Arjuna in the Nivatakavacha Yuddha of the Vana Parva.