monarch, the achiever of his own fame.  And the ladies saw that he was like unto Sakra, the slayer of his enemies, capable of repulsing the elephants of foes—­And they believed that he was the wielder of the thunderbolt himself.  And they said, ’This is that tiger among men who in battle is equal unto the Vasus in prowess, and in consequence of the might of whose arms no foes are left.’  And saying this, the ladies from affection gratified the monarch by showering flowers on his head.  And followed by foremost of Brahmanas uttering blessings all the way, the king in great gladness of heart went towards the forest, eager for slaying the deer.  And many Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, and Sudras, followed the monarch who was like unto the king of the celestials seated on the back of a proud elephant.  The citizens and other classes followed the monarch for some distance.  And they at last refrained from going farther at the command of the king.  And the king, then, ascending his chariot of winged speed, filled the whole earth and even the heavens, with the rattle of his chariot wheels.  And, as he went, he saw around him a forest like unto Nandana itself (the celestial garden).  And it was full of Vilwa, Arka, Khadira (catechu), Kapittha (wood-apple) and Dhava trees.  And he saw that the soil was uneven and scattered over with blocks of stone loosened from the neighbouring cliffs.  And he saw that it was without water and without human beings and lay extended for many Yojanas around.  And it was full of deer, and lions, and other terrible beasts of prey.

“And king Dushmanta, that tiger among men, assisted by his followers and the warriors in his train, agitated that forest, killing numerous animals.  And Dushmanta, piercing them with his arrows, felled numerous tigers that were within shooting range.  And the king wounded many that were too distant, and killed many that were too near with his heavy sword.  And that foremost of all wielders of darts killed many by hurling his darts at them.  And well-conversant with the art of whirling the mace, the king of immeasurable prowess fearlessly wandered over the forest.  And the king roamed about, killing the denizens of the wilderness sometimes with his sword and sometimes by fast-descending blows of his mace and heavy club.

“And when the forest was so disturbed by the king possessed of wonderful energy and by the warriors in his train delighting in warlike sports, the lions began to desert it in numbers.  And herds of animals deprived of their leaders, from fear and anxiety began to utter loud cries as they fled in all directions.  And fatigued with running, they began to fall down on all sides, unable to slake their thirst, having reached river-beds that were perfectly dry.  And many so falling were eaten up by the hungry warriors.  While others were eaten up after having been duly quartered and roasted in fires lit up by them.  And many strong elephants, maddened with the wounds