Yudhistira praises Vishnu

Pleased, Yudhistira said - Who can understand your game, O Lord. You are the lord of three worlds, the creator and destroyer of all.
As a fish you rescued the Vedas from the waters.
As a tortoise, you saved the earth.
As a boar, you held the earth in your tusks.
As Narasimha your killed Hiranyakashipu.
As the dwarf, you pushed Bali into the nether world and took over the three worlds with your feet.
As Rama, you killed Ravana.
As Parasshurama, you killed all Kshatriyas.
As Balarama, you married the daughter of Surya. (Revati, wife of Balarama, was a girl of the solar dynasty).
As Buddha you show compassion and as Kalki you will get rid of evil. (This seems to be an addition specific here, as Vyasa's epic has no mention of Buddha. Buddha was born much after the Mahabharata was composed.)

The sages try to reach you but are unable to. The Vedas are in your control.

Hearing this, Vishnu embraced Yudhistira, and Yudhistira lived in the heaven, with his near ones.

Yudhistira united with all

Vaishampayana said to Janmajeya - Listen to me while I tell you about the sin of Yudhistira.
In the great war, Krishna was the charioteer of Arjuna. Bhishma was killed by placing Shikhandi. Aftre Bhishma, the commander of the army was Drona. Drona's son was Ashwatthama. Seeing that Drona was not getting killed Krishna thought of winning over Drona cleverly. He had the elephant called Ashwatthama killed and then it was announced that Ashwatthama had died. When Drona had asked Yudhistira, Yudhistira said said Ashwatthama is dead and slowly he had said elephant. Drona hearing this, put down his weapons. This was Yudhistira's sin.
Janmajeya asked - What happened to Yudhistira in hell?
The sage said -
When Yudhistira asked Vishnu, he said Abhimanyu looked at you like his father. You told him to kill Drona, a brahmin. That was a sin.
Yudhistira asked How will I get relief from this?
Vishnu then called Garuda and asked him to take Yudhistira to the white island, Shwetadweep. With his large wing span, he was able to quickly take Yudhistira there.
Yudhistira saw a beautiful stream in which many celestial beings were bathing. He saw many sages praying on the banks.
Yudhistira stepped into the water and offered prayers to his departed ancestors. As soon he stepped out of the water, he was also transformed into a celestial and was no longer human.
Garuda brought him back where Vishnu was.
Vishnu said You look so different. You look refreshed and also you are not casting a shadow. You are no longer human.
Yudhistira said It all because of your grace, O lord. You have helped me a lot as Krishna. You take birth in different incarnations to help your devotees.
Vishnu took Yudhistira to another place. He said See there you see your father Pandu, sitting with Kunti, Madri, Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. Karna is there with them. The hundred sons of Duryodhana are also there. The five sons of Draupadi are also there. Along with Draupadi you can also see your four brothers.
Yudhistira looked around, amazed.

Yudhistira enters heaven

Yudhistira was surprised to see all the Gods there. He bowed down to all. Indra, sensing this, asked Matali to come with a chariot adorned with flowers.
While this was happening, Indra and Yama started decking and dressing Yudhistira.
Then with the Gods, Yudhistira climbed up on the chariot.
He was taken to the court of Indra, where he was offered a seat and the choicest of food and drink.
Indra said It is because of your deeds that you have been able to come to heaven in your mortal form. Yudhistira said he wanted to see Krishna.
Indra said he would arrange for a chariot for him, to be taken to Vaikuntha.

On his way, he saw Brahma sitting in his place, his four heads reciting the scriptures. He bowed down to Brahma, who blessed him. From there, Yudhistira went to the abode of Shiva, at Kailasha. There Yudhistira saw Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha and Kartikeya, along with Nandi and Bhringi.  Yudhistira bowed down there. Shiva hugged him and said Yudhistira was indeed fortunate, that he was able to come to heaven in his mortal body.

From there, Yudhistira went to Vaikuntha. He saw the marvelous part of the heaven which was here Vishnu lived. Vishnu seeing Yudhistira, got up and greeted Yudhistira. Yudhistira said he was coming there with wife and brothers, but they had perished on the way.
Vishnu said there were already there. Yudhistira said he wanted to see them. Vishnu come with me.
Saying this, Vishnu took him northwards and opened a door.
It was dark inside. Yudhistira was unable to see a thing. He then started hearing voices. He heard the dead ones calling out to him, including his brothers. They said you are great and have reached heaven. We were not that great sinners, but we have to be in hell.
Yudhistira could only hear voices but could not see a thing. He asked Vishnu what was this? He thought he was in the abode of Yama and not in heaven.

He asked Krishna - Why am I seeing hell?

Greatness of Hari

Bhisma said - Listen Yudhistira while I tell you more.One who worships Govinda with many gifts gets blessings from the Lord. If one bathes Vishnu on the twelfth day of the lunar cycle (Dwadashi) that falls on a Monday, he is blessed and he and his generation is taken to the abode of Vishnu. One who fasts on the day of Krishna Janamashtami and bathes Krishna with milk and water is relieved from all sins by Narayana. Let me tell you about this.
There was a king called Yagyadhwaja. He used to beg for forgiveness at the temple of Hari. His priest, worried, asked him the reason for this. The king said - In my previous birth I was the son of a merchant and my name was Yagyamali. I was an evil person. Seeing my deeds my family expelled me. What ever I had I spent on cheap women. Seeing this, my brothers tied me up, beat me and then left me far away.
In the forest, I was hungry when I came across a temple of Vishnu. It was dirty. I cleaned the temple and went to sleep there. A snake happened to come there and it bit me. Two attendants of Yama came to fetch me but were stopped by the attendants of Vishnu. Yama's attendants said this is a great sinner and he needs to go with us.
Vishnu's attendants said this person has come here, fasted and cleaned the temple of Vishnu and is subject to forgiveness. Saying this Vishnu's attendants took me with them.
Unknowingly I had prayed in the temple of Vishnu and thus I am freed.
The priest hearing this, bowed down to the king.

Vishnu kicked

One who gives gifts is worshiped by all. Once there was a person called Subodh who was a son of a brahaman. He was a poor brahman and was barely able to meet the needs of his family. His children were always hungry and crying for food. He was looked down upon by the residents of the town.
One day, sitting in his house he wished to be rich. He felt that the rich had no worries.
Leaving that town with his family, he went to the kingdom of Kosala and requested to meet the king.
He got many gifts from the king and settled down there.
The king, because of his deeds went to heaven after death. He then went stayed in the abode of Brahma. Then we went to the abode of Vishnu and lived there.
The body of Vishnu is the place of a brahmana. Vishnu is a devotee of a brahmana and thus he gracefully accepted the kick that he got from a brahmana.
Yudhistira said - I have never heard of this. Please tell me why a brahmana kicked Vishnu.
Bhishma said -
In olden days, the sage Bhrigu wanted to know who was the supreme God. He went to see Shiva asked him the reason why he had come. The sage kept quiet and Shiva getting angry said he would kill him with his trident. The sage ran to Brahma. There too, he did not say anything and kept quiet.
Getting no answer, he went where Vishnu was. Vishnu was sleeping. Seeing this, Bhrigu kicked Vishnu on his chest. Lakshmi got angry but Vishnu getting up, started the worshiping the foot that had kicked him. He wondered if the sage had hurt his foot.
Bhrigu was ashamed. He said I know you are the Supreme One and I have kicked you.
Vishnu said You should not worry. Your mark will stay on my chest as an ornament.

Bhadrasheel and Dhanurdwaj

Bhishma said - There was once a sage called Bhadrasheel in the land of Ayodhya. he was learned in the Vedas. He hired a boy called Dhanurdwaj to look after the cows. Dhanurdwaj was a brahmin in the previous birth who had been cursed by his brother to be born as a low caste person.
Yudhistira said - Why was he cursed?
Bhishma said - In the Ikshvaku dynasty, there was a brahmin who had two sons Suvanti and Avanti. While Suvanti was a person who followed the right path, Avanti always followed the wrong. He was a jealous person, who took pleasure in theft. His brother tried to correct him and when he did, he was cursed to be born as a Chandala.
This angered Avanti who went to the forests and started meditating. He gave up his body and this was was the person who was looking after the cows of Bhadrasheel. He looked after the cows well and the cows were happy too in his care. One day he died of a snake bite.
Bhadrasheel was devastated. He cried like a parent cries for a dead child.
After dying, Dhanurdwaj became a servant of Yama and at his bidding used to go and fetch the people from earth.
One day he came to get a person when he was spotted by Bhadrasheel. Bhadrasheel said People do not come alive after dying. How did you come alive?
Dhanurdwaj said Due to curse in his previous birth he had been cursed to serve Yama.
Bhadrasheel said I am intrigued. Please tell me about the cycle of birth and death.
Dhanurdwaj said Its a vast thing but I will tell you in brief.
When a female makes love to a male, from the union is created a child. In the womb the child is size of a grain of sand, which slowly grows and become the size of a thumb. Its a lump of flesh. From the second month the head forms. On the third month the limbs form and on the fourth, hair. In the fifth month it grows slightly and in the sixth month it moves in the womb. In the seventh month it starts sensing. In the eighth month it knows about the cycles it has lived through till now and the sins and virtues it has gained. It cries wondering why it did not take the name of Krishna all the time. And the moment it is born, it forgets everything.
It cries and feeds on milk from the breasts of the mother,
They come with a fixed life span. If their actions are heinous, their life span decreases and many die in childhood. Some die in their middle age and some in the old age.
Death cannot be avoided. It is a reality and strikes all.
Bhadrasheel was pleased. He said I want to see the abode of Yama. Will you show me that?
Dhanurdwaj said If you have any tasks pending complete those. If you any loans, repay those. Finish that and then come with me. I will take you to the abode of Yama.
Bhadrasheel said I will repay all. How will I see you again?
Dhanurdwaj said - Go home. After finishing your pending tasks, take leave of your family. You will give them good advise before leaving. You will then lock yourself in your room for tree days. You will tell them that if they try to open the door, you will die. Be in your room, I will come for you.
Bhadrasheel went back home. He went to his parents and took leave of them after paying any debts that he had. He then went out and repaid all loans that he had ever taken. To his wife and children he said he was going to lock himself in the room for three days. They were not to open the door or peep inside, else he would die.
He then locked himself up in the room.
Here, Dhanurdwaj was disturbed after having promised Bhadrasheel. He took another person to Yama.
Here, Yudhistira asked What was Yama's reaction. Bhishma said -
Kirtimanta was a son of a merchant. His son was Sushil. Sushil was rich and good natured. He had donated a lot to the poor and needy. Anger is a grave enemy. When a brahmin came to Sushil for alms, Sushil looked at him with angry eyes. This displeased the brahmin who refused what was given to him. He cursed Sushil to die untimely. One day when he was bathing in a river, the servants of Yama came and took him away.
Yama looked at him and said You have given a lot and have performed good deeds but have not been able to control your anger. Sushil said he was willing to pay for his sin. Yama said Go back to the river live there like a crocodile. You will meet a sage called Deval, seeing whom you will be relieved.
He went back and a ferocious crocodile, devoured all that came to the water. One day the sage Deval came there. The moment the crocodile bit the sage, he was relieved from his curse.
Yudhistira asked What happened to Bhadrasheel?
Bhishma said Bhadrasheel was taken to the abode of Yama. He saw a lovely place full of people. Some place had eternal summer and some winter and rain. At one place the attendants were beating the sinners.
Travelling thus he came across a woman. She asked him to pay her. Bhadrasheel said he had nothing to pay with and could go back to earth and get her something.
At this moment Dhanurdwaj said You have some debt pending. You said you had repaid everything. Bhadrasheel said He had really repaid everything.
At this Dhanurdwaj asked the woman to leave him. The woman said she would if the brahman gave her the skin from his chest.
Scared Bhadrasheel closed his eyes and started calling out to Krishna.
Unable to stay in his place, Vishnu appeared before Bhadrasheel. Vishnu said I am pleased, ask for something.
Bhadrasheel said I do not need anything but if you want to give me something, then let me take your name for ages to come. He also said he wanted to be relieved from the woman.
Vishnu asked Bhadrasheel not to worry. He himself took the form of Bhadrasheel and went with Dhanurdwaj to the woman. He then cut off his flesh and gave it to the woman. Taking this own form, he left.
The woman was amazed. Why did Vishnu do this? The woman then realized that the Brahmin had prayed to Vishnu in the form of a Pipal tree.
A divine chariot then came and took Bhadrasheel away.
After three days Bhadrasheel woke up in his hut. He came out and saw Vishnu's skin on the Pipal tree.
He then went worshiped the tree with full devotion.

Garuda and Vishnu

Vishnu had been observing the antics of Garuda, He challenged Garuda. He flung his discus but the bird was not hurt. Garuda attacked Vishnu and hurt him badly with his beak and sharp claws. Stopping the flight, Vishnu said I have never seen one like you. I am pleased with your strength. Ask for a boon.

Garuda said if you are pleased with me, give me a position above you, on your flag. Garuda then said, he also wanted to give Vishnu a boon. Vishnu then said, he would like Garuda to be his vehicle.

Garuda then left with the pot of nectar for his mother. On the way, Indra confronted him and was about to hurl his thunderbolt at him. Garuda said Please do not insult your weapon. A thousand bolts hurled together will not hurt me. To give respect to you, I will tear off a feather from a wing and throw that at you.

Indra was amazed and asked for Garuda's friendship. He further wanted to know how strong he was. 

Garuda said One should talk of ones' own strengths. Only because you are asking me, I will tell you. I can fly tirelessly with all the worlds balanced on my wings. 

Indra then asked why Garuda was carrying the nectar away. Garuda told him about his mother's slavery. Hearing this, Indra said the Nagas are evil. You will not be able to tackle them easily and you will need to play with them. Garuda said when I hand over the nectar to the Nagas, my mother will be free, and then you can take away the nectar. Indra then asked Garuda to ask for a boon. Garuda said the Nagas have been the cause for this trouble. From today let them become my natural food.

Garuda flew on and invisible Indra flew along with Garuda.