thee for thy act is without a parallel.  There is no Kshatriya who is equal to thee in courage, and patience.  And, O sinless one, thy strength and prowess are almost equal to mine.  O mighty-armed one, I have been pleased with thee.  Behold me, O bull of the Bharata race!  O large-eyed one!  I will grant thee eyes (to see me in my true form).  Thou wert a Rishi before.  Thou wilt vanquish all thy foes, even the dwellers of heaven; I will as I have been pleased with thee, grant thee an irresistible weapon.  Soon shall thou be able to wield that weapon of mine.”

Vaisampayana continued, “Phalguna then beheld him—­Mahadeva—­that god of blazing splendour-that wielder of the Pinaka-that one who had his abode on the mountains (of Kailasa)—­accompanied by Uma.  Bending down on his knee and bowing with his head, that conqueror of hostile cities-the son of Pritha-worshipped Hara and inclined him to grace.  And Arjuna said, ’O Kapardin, O chief of all gods, O destroyer of the eyes of Bhaga, O god of gods, O Mahadeva, O thou of blue throat, O thou of matted locks, I know thee as the Cause of all causes.  O thou of three eyes, O lord of all!  Thou art the refuge of all the gods!  This universe hath sprung from thee.  Thou art incapable of being vanquished by the three worlds of the celestials, the Asuras, and men.  Thou art Siva in the form of Vishnu, and Vishnu in the form of Siva.  Thou destroyedest of old the great sacrifice of Daksha.  O Hari, O Rudra, I bow to thee.  Thou hast an eye on thy forehead.  O Sarva, O thou that rainest objects of desire, O bearer of the trident, O wielder of the Pinaka, O Surya, O thou of pure body, O Creator of all, I bow to thee.  O lord of all created things, I worship thee to obtain thy grace.  Thou art the lord of the Ganas, the source of universal blessing, the Cause of the causes of the universe.  Thou art beyond the foremost of male beings, thou art the highest, thou art the subtlest, O Hara!  O illustrious Sankara, it behoveth thee to pardon my fault.  It was even to obtain a sight of thyself that I came to this great mountain, which is dear to thee and which is the excellent abode of ascetics.  Thou art worshipped of all worlds.  O lord, I worship thee to obtain thy grace.  Let not this rashness of mine be regarded as a fault—­this combat in which I was engaged with thee from ignorance.  O Sankara, I seek thy protection.  Pardon me all I have done.”

Vaisampayana continued, “Endued with great might, the god whose sign was the bull, taking into his the handsome hands of Arjuna, smilingly replied unto him, saying, ’I have pardoned thee.  And the illustrious Hara, cheerfully clasping Arjuna with his arms, once more consoling Arjuna said as follows.”

SECTION XL