in the welkin all around.  At that time, I hurled at Rama the weapon named Vayavya which Rama neutralised, O Bharata, by the weapon called Guhyaka.  Then I applied, with proper mantras, the weapon called Agneya but the lord Rama neutralised that weapon of mine by one (of his) called Varuna.  And it was in this way that I neutralised the celestial weapons of Rama, and that chastiser of foes, Rama also, endued with great energy and acquainted with celestial weapons, neutralised the weapons shot by me.  Then, O monarch, that best of Brahmanas, the mighty son of Jamadagni, filled with wrath, suddenly wheeling to my right, pierced me in the breast.  At this, O best of the Bharatas, I swooned on my best of cars.  And beholding me, reft of consciousness, my charioteer quickly bore me away from the field.  And seeing me afflicted and pierced with Rama’s weapons and borne away drooping and in a swoon, all the followers of Rama, including Akritavrana and others and the princess of Kasi, filled with joy, O Bharata, began to shout aloud!  Regaining consciousness then, I addressed my charioteer, saying,—­Go where Rama stayeth!  My pains have left me, and I am ready for battle!—­Thus instructed, my charioteer soon took me where Rama was, with the aid of those exceedingly handsome steeds of mine that seemed to dance as they coursed (through the plain) and that were endued with the speed of the wind.  And approaching Rama then, O thou of Kuru’s race, and filled with wrath, from desire of vanquishing his angry self, I overwhelmed him with an arrowy shower!  But Rama, shooting three for every single of mine, cut into fragments every one of my straight-going arrows in mid air before any of them could reach him!  And beholding those well-furnished arrows of mine by hundreds and thousands, each cut off in twain by Rama’s arrows, all the followers of Rama were filled with joy.  Impelled then by the desire of slaying him, I shot at Rama, the son of Jamadagni, a good-looking arrow of blazing effulgence with Death’s self sitting at its head.  Struck very forcibly therewith and succumbing to its impetus, Rama fell into a swoon and dropped down on the ground.  And when Rama thus dropped on the ground, exclamations of Oh and Alas arose on all sides, and the whole universe, O Bharata, was filled with confusion and alarm, such as may be witnessed if the sun himself were ever to fall down from the firmament!  Then all those ascetics together with the princess of Kasi, quietly proceeded, O son of Kuru’s race, with great anxiety towards Rama.  And embracing him, O Kaurava, they began to comfort him softly with the touch of their hands, rendered cold by contact with water, and with assurances of victory.  Thus comforted, Rama rose up and fixing an arrow to his bow he addressed me in an agitated voice, saying, ’Stay, O Bhishma!  Thou art already slain!  And let off by him, that arrow quickly pierced my left side in that fierce encounter.  And struck therewith, I began to tremble like a tree shaken by the tempest.  Slaying my