Mahabharata 1.16.1

1.16.1

sūta uvāca |
tato'bhraśikharākārairgiriśṛṅgairalaṃkṛtam |
mandaraṃ parvatavaraṃ latājālasamāvṛtam || 1 ||

"Sauti said, 'There is a mountain called Mandara adorned with cloud-like peaks. It is the best of mountains, and is covered all over with intertwining herbs. There countless birds pour forth their melodies, and beasts of prey roam about. The gods, the Apsaras and the Kinnaras visit the place. Upwards it rises eleven thousand yojanas, and descends downwards as much. The gods wanted to tear it up and use it as a churning rod but failing to do so same to Vishnu and Brahman who were sitting together, and said unto them, 'Devise some efficient scheme, consider, ye gods, how Mandara may be dislodged for our good.'