my heart. And I then, myself, singly obtained
for my adversary that invincible and mighty exterminator
of the Kshatriya race,
viz., Rama risen like the
sun himself in splendour, desirous (on his part) of
fighting singly! And after he had poured three
showers of arrows on me curbing my steeds, I came down
from my car and placing my bow aside I proceeded on
foot to that best of Rishis. And arriving before
him, I worshipped the best of Brahmanas with reverence.
And having saluted him duly, I told him these excellent
words,—O Rama, whether thou art equal or
superior to me, I will fight with thee, my virtuous
preceptor, in battle! O lord, bless me, wishing
me victory!’
“Rama, thus addressed, said, ’O foremost
one of Kuru’s race, he that desires prosperity
should act even thus! O thou of mighty arms, they
that fight with warriors more eminent than themselves,
have this duty to perform. O king, I would have
cursed thee if thou hadst not approached me thus!
Go, fight carefully and summoning all thy patience,
O thou of Kuru’s race! I cannot, however,
wish thee victory, for I myself stand here to vanquish
thee! Go, fight fairly! I am pleased with
thy behaviour!—Bowing unto him, I then
speedily came back, and mounting on my car, I once
more blew my conch decked with gold, And then, O Bharata,
the combat commenced between him and me. And it
lasted for many days. each of us, O king, having been
desirous of vanquishing the other. And in that
battle, it was Rama who struck me first with nine hundred
and sixty straight arrows furnished with vulturine
wings. And with that arrowy shower, O king, my
four steeds and charioteer were completely covered!
Notwithstanding all this, however, I remained quiet
in that encounter, accoutred in my coat of mail!
Bowing unto the gods, and especially unto the Brahmanas,
I then smilingly addressed Rama stationed for battle,
saying,—Although thou hast shown little
regard for me, yet I have fully honoured thy preceptorship!
Listen again, O Brahmana, to some other auspicious
duty that should be discharged if virtue is to be earned!
The Vedas that are in thy body, and the high status
of Brahmana that is also in thee, and the ascetic
merit thou hast earned by the severest of austerities,
I do not strike at these! I strike, however, at
that Kshatriyahood which thou, O Rama, hast adopted!
When a Brahmana taketh up weapons, he becometh a Kshatriya.
Behold now the power of my bow and the energy of my
arms! Speedily shall I cut off that bow of thine
with a sharp shaft!—Saying this I shot
at him, O bull of Bharata’s race, a sharp broad-headed
arrow, And cutting off one of the horns of his bow
with it. I caused it to drop on the ground.
I then shot at Jamadagni’s car a hundred straight
arrows winged with vulturine feathers. Piercing
through Rama’s body and borne along by the wind,
those arrows coursing through space seemed to vomit
blood (from their mouths) and resembled veritable
snakes. Covered all over with blood and with blood
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