tied to his belt, he shone like a blazing fire.  With scimitar and shield and whirling his shield as he went, he proceeded to the presence of his sire.  Beholding the prince, the son of Sudeva, viz., king Divodasa, became filled with joy.  Indeed, the old king thought the sons of his enemy Vitahavya as already slain.  Divodasa then installed his son Pratarddana as Yuvaraja, and regarding himself crowned with success became exceedingly happy.  After this, the old king commanded that chastiser of foes, viz., prince Pratarddana to march against the sons of Vitahavya and slay them in battle.  Endued with great powers.  Pratarddana, that subjugator of hostile cities speedily crossed Ganga on his car and proceeded against the city of the Vitahavyas.  Hearing the clatter produced by the wheels of his car, the sons of Vitahavya, riding on their own cars that looked like fortified citadels and that were capable of destroying hostile vehicles, issued out of their city.  Issuing out of their capital, those tigers among men, viz., the sons of Vitahavya, who were all skilful warriors cased in mail, rushed with uplifted weapons towards Pratarddana, covering him with showers of arrows.  Encompassing him with innumerable cars, O Yudhisthira, the Vitahavyas poured upon Pratarddana showers of weapons of various kinds like clouds pouring torrents of rain on the breast of Himavat.  Baffling their weapons with his own, prince Pratarddana endued with mighty energy slew them all with his shafts that resembled the lighting fire of Indra.  Their heads struck off, O king, with hundreds and thousands of broad-headed arrows, the warriors of Vitahavya fell down with blood-dyed bodies like Kinsuka trees felled by woodmen with their axes on every side.  After all his warriors and sons had fallen in battle, king Vitahavya fled away from his capital to the retreat of Bhrigu.  Indeed, arrived there, the royal fugitive sought the protection of Bhrigu.  The Rishi Bhrigu, O monarch, assured the defeated king of his protection.  Pratarddana followed in the footsteps of Vitahavya.  Arrived at the Rishi’s retreat, the son of Divodasa said in a loud voice.—­Ho, listen ye disciples of the high souled Bhrigu that may happen to be present, I wish to see the sage.  Go and inform him of this.  Recognising that it was Pratarddana who had come, the Rishi Bhrigu himself came out of his retreat and worshipped that best of kings according to due rites.  Addressing him then, the Rishi said,—­Tell me, O king, what is thy business.  The king, at this, informed the Rishi of the reason of his presence.’

“The king said, ’King Vitahavya has come here, O Brahmana.  Do thou give him up.  His sons, O Brahmana, had destroyed my race.  They had laid waste the territories and the wealth of the kingdom of Kasi.  Hundred sons, however, of this king proud of his might, have all been slain by me.  By slaying that king himself I shall today pay off the debt I owe to my father.  Unto him that foremost