Vaisampayana continued, "Then, O represser of foes, at sunrise, having
finished his daily devotions, _Dhaumya_ came unto the Pandavas, with
_Arshtishena_. And having bowed down unto the feet of Arshtishena and
Dhaumya, they with joined hands paid homage unto all the Brahmanas. Then
Dhaumya taking Yudhishthira's right hand, said these words, looking at
the east, 'O mighty monarch, this king of mountains, Mandara lieth vast,
covering the earth up to the ocean. O Pandava, Indra and Vaisravana
preside over this point graced with woods and forests and mountains.
And, O child, the intelligent sages versed in every duty, say, that this
(region) is the abode of Indra and king Vaisravana. And the twice-born
ones, and the sages versed in the duties, and the _Sidhas_, and the
_Sadhyas_, and the celestials pay their adorations unto the Sun as he
riseth from this point. And that lord of all living beings, king _Yama_,
conversant with duty, presideth over yonder southern region whither come
the spirits of the departed. And this is _Sanyamana_, the abode of the
lord of departed spirits, sacred, and wonderful to behold, and crowned
with prime prosperity. And the intelligent ones call that monarch of
mountains (by the name of) Asta. Having, O king, arrived at this, the
Sun ever abideth by the truth. And king _Varuna_ protects all creatures,
abiding in this king of mountains, and also in the vast deep. And, O
highly fortunate one, there illumining the northern regions, lieth the
puissant Mahameru, auspicious and the refuge of those knowing _Brahma_,
where is the court of _Brahma_, and remaining where that soul of all
creatures, _Prajapati_, hath created all that is mobile and immobile.
And the _Mahameru_ is the auspicious and healthy abode even of the seven
mind-born sons of _Brahma_, of whom _Daksha_ was the seventh. And, O
child, here it is that the seven celestial _rishis_ with Vasishtha at
their head rise and set. Behold that excellent and bright summit of the
Meru, where sitteth the great sire (_Brahma_) with the celestials happy
in self-knowledge. And next to the abode of _Brahma_ is visible the