of the mace-bearing Yama.’  The illustrious Arjuna then, taking up his bow and dragging the Kirata with his bow-string, struck him some fierce blows that descended like thunderbolts.  When, however, that slayer of hostile heroes—­the son of Kunti—­commenced the conflict with the end of the bow, the mountaineer snatched from his hands that celestial bow.  And beholding his bow snatched from him, Arjuna took up his sword, and wishing to end the conflict, rushed at his foe.  And then the Kuru prince, with the whole might of his arms, struck that sharp weapon upon the head of the Kirata, a weapon that was incapable of being resisted even by solid rocks.  But that first of swords, at touch of the Kirata’s crown, broke into pieces.  Phalguna then commenced the conflict with trees and stones.  The illustrious god in the form of the huge-bodied Kirata, however, bore that shower of trees and rocks with patience.  The mighty son of Pritha then, his mouth smoking with wrath, struck the invincible god in the form of a Kirata, with hi clenched fists, blows that descended like thunderbolts.  The god in the Kirata form returned Phalguna’s blows with fierce blows resembling the thunderbolts of Indra.  And in consequence of that conflict of blows between the son of Pandu and the Kirata, there arose in that place loud and frightful sounds.  That terrible conflict of blows, resembling the conflict of yore between Vritra and Vasava, lasted but for a moment.  The mighty Jishnu clasping the Kirata began to press him with his breast, but the Kirata, possessed of great strength pressed the insensible son of Pandu with force.  And in consequence of the pressure of their arms and of their breasts, their bodies began to emit smoke like charcoal in fire.  The great god then, smiting the already smitten son of Pandu, and attacking him in anger with his full might, deprived him of his senses.  Then, O Bharata, Phalguna, thus pressed by the god of the gods, with limbs, besides, bruised and mangled, became incapable of motion and was almost reduced to a ball of flesh.  And struck by the illustrious god, he became breathless and, falling down on earth without power of moving, looked like one that was dead.  Soon, however, he regained consciousness, and, rising from his prostrate position, with body covered with blood, became filled with grief.  Mentally prostrating himself before the gracious god of gods, and making a clay image of that deity, he worshipped it, with offerings of floral garlands.  Beholding, however, the garland that he had offered to the clay image of Bhava, decking the crown of the Kirata, that best of Pandu’s sons became filled with joy and regained his ease.  And he prostrated himself thereupon at the feet of Bhava, and the god also was pleased with him.  And Hara, beholding the wonder of Arjuna and seeing that his body had been emaciated with ascetic austerities, spake unto him in a voice deep as the roaring of the clouds, saying, ’O Phalguna, I have been pleased with