Kuru prince beheld (in that region) that excellent of lakes called Manasa
and various other lakes and tanks sacred to the Rishis. And the exalted
prince having arrived at the lake Manasa conquered the regions ruled by
the Gandharvas that lay around the Harataka territories. Here the
conqueror took, as tribute from the country, numerous excellent horses
called Tittiri, Kalmasha, Manduka. At last the son of the slayer of Paka,
arriving in the country of North Harivarsha desired to conquer it.
Thereupon certain frontier-guards of huge bodies and endued with great
strength and energy, coming to him with gallant hearts, said, 'O son of
Pritha, this country can be never conquered by thee. If thou seekest thy
good, return hence. He that entereth this region, if human, is sure to
perish. We have been gratified with thee; O hero, thy conquests have been
enough. Nor is anything to be seen here, O Arjuna, that may be conquered
by thee. The Northern Kurus live here. There cannot be war here. Even if
thou enterest it, thou will not be able to behold anything, for with human
eyes nothing can be seen here. If, however thou seekest anything else, O
Bharata tell us, O tiger among men, so that we may do thy bidding.' Thus
addressed by them, Arjuna smilingly addressing them, said,--'I desire the
acquisition of the imperial dignity by Yudhishthira the just, of great
intelligence. If your land is shut against human beings, I shall not enter
it. Let something be paid unto Yudhishthira by ye as tribute.' Hearing
these words of Arjuna, they gave him as tribute many cloths and ornaments
of celestial make, silks of celestial texture and skins of celestial
origin.

"It was thus that tiger among men subjugated the countries that lay to the
North, having fought numberless battles with both Kshatriya and robber
tribes. And having vanquished the chiefs and brought them under his sway
he exacted from them much wealth, various gems and jewels, the horses of
the species called Tittiri and Kalmasha, as also those of the colour of