Vaishampayana said:
1. Then when the night came to a close Dhananjaya, with all his brothers, saluted Dharmaraja Yudhishthira.
2. At this time there arose in the firmament tremendous and dreadful sounds of all the musical instruments of the gods;
3. Such and O Bharata, as the rattling sounds of the car-wheels and the ringing of bells. (In consequence of which) all the beasts of prey, the deer and the birds gave forth their own peculiar cries.
4. Ascending cars of sun-like splendour, multitudes of Gandharvas and Apsaras followed from all directions the king of the gods, the tormentor of foes.
5-6. Then Purandara, the king of the gods, blazing in transcendental beauty and ascending a car, yoked with horses, varnished with gold and roaring like clouds, set out (to meet) the Parthas. Arriving (there) he of hundred eyes got down from the car.
7. No sooner had Dharmaraja Yudhishthira beheld that high-souled one, than he approached the prosperous lord of the gods together with his brothers.
8. And that generous one (Yudhishthira) duly worshipped (Indra) of immeasurable soul as befitting his dignity having strict regard to proper form.
9. (And) the energetic Dhananjaya having saluted Purandara, stood before the king of the gods, like a servant with humility.
10-13. Yudhishthira, the highly energetic son of Kunti seeing, that sinless and devotional Dhananjaya, bearing clotted hair, stand before the king of the gods in humility and smelling (his head), was lost in great joy, at the sight of Falguni and was exceedingly glad at worshipping the lord of the celestials. Then the intelligent king of the gods, Purandara addressed the noble-minded and exceedingly joyful king (Yudhishthira) thus, saying, “O king, O Pandava, you shall govern the earth. Let prosperity attend three, O son of Kunti, do you return to Kamyaka.
14. O king, Pandava Dhananjaya has obtained all the weapons from me and has also performed deeds pleasing to me; (therefore) no one in the three worlds is capable of subduing him.”
15. Addressing Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, thus and being worshipped by the Maharshis, the hundred eyed (Indra) left for heaven with delight.
16-17. That learned being, who, for a year observing Brahmacharya and checking his passions and observing vows, peruses with close attention the meeting of the Pandava, residing in the abode of the lord of wealth with Shakra, lives a hundred years free from all disturbances and in great bliss.
Thus ends the hundred and sixty-sixth chapter, the arrival of Indra in the Nivatakavacha Yuddha of the Vana Parva.