other down, and the grasping of each other’s legs for dashing each other to the ground, became so loud that it resembled the roar of thunder or of falling cliffs.  Both of them were foremost of mighty men, and both took great delight in such encounter.  Desirous of vanquishing the other, each was on the alert for taking advantage of the slightest lapse of the other.  And, O monarch, the mighty Bhima and Jarasandha fought terribly on in those lists, driving the crowd at times by the motions of their hands like Vritra and Vasava of old.  Thus two heroes, dragging each other forward and pressing each other backward and with sudden jerks throwing each other face downward and sideways, mangled each other dreadfully.  And at times they struck each other with their knee-joints.  And addressing each other loudly in stinging speeches, they struck each other with clenched fists, the blows descending like a mass of stone upon each other.  With broad shoulders and long arms and both well-skilled in wrestling encounters, they struck each other with those long arms of theirs that were like maces of iron.  That encounter of the heroes commenced on the first (lunar) day of the month of Kartic (October) and the illustrious heroes fought on without intermission and food, day and night, till the thirteenth lunar day.  It was on the night of the fourteenth of the lunar fortnight that the monarch of Magadha desisted from fatigue.  And O king, Janardana beholding the monarch tired, addressed Bhima of terrible deeds, and as if to stimulate him said,—­’O son of Kunti, a foe that is fatigued cannot be pressed for if pressed at such a time he may even die.  Therefore, O son of Kunti, this king should not be oppressed by thee.  On the other hand, O bull of the Bharata race, fight with him With thy arms, putting forth as much strength only as thy antagonist hath now left!’ Then that slayer of hostile heroes, the son of Pandu, thus addressed by Krishna, understood the plight of Jarasandha and forthwith resolved upon taking his life.  And that foremost of all men endued with strength, that prince of the Kuru race, desirous of vanquishing the hitherto unvanquished Jarasandha, mustered all his strength and courage.”

SECTION XXIV

Vaisampayana said,—­“thus addressed, Bhima firmly resolved upon slaying Jarasandha, replied unto Krishna of the Yadu race, saying,—­O tiger of the Yadu race, O Krishna, this wretch that yet stayeth before me with sufficient strength and bent upon fight, should not be forgiven by me.  Hearing these words of Vrikodara (Bhima), that tiger among men, Krishna, desiring to encourage that hero to accomplish the death of Jarasandha without any delay, answered,—­’O Bhima, exhibit today upon Jarasandha the strength thou hast luckily derived, the might thou hast obtained from (thy father), the god Maruta.’  Thus addressed by Krishna, Bhima, that slayer of foes, holding up in the air the powerful Jarasandha, began to whirl him on high.