their feet, enquired after their welfare.  And the two Rishis received the king hospitably, with fruits and roots, and a seat and water.  And they then enquired after the king’s business, saying, ‘Let it be done.’  And thus addressed by them, the king said unto them the same words that he was in the habit of saying unto all.  And he said, ’The whole earth has been conquered by the might of my arms.  All my foes have been slain.  Desiring a battle with you both I have come to this mountain.  Offer me this hospitality.  I have been cherishing this wish from a long time.’  Thus addressed, Nara and Narayana said, ’O best of kings, wrath and covetousness have no place in this retreat.  How can a battle, therefore, be possible here?  There are no weapons here, and nothing of unrighteousness and malice.  Seek battle elsewhere.  There are many Kshatriyas on earth.’

“Rama continued, ’Although thus addressed, the king still pressed them for giving him battle.  The Rishis, however, continually soothed him and overlooked his importunity.  King Dambhodbhava, still desirous of battle, repeatedly summoned those Rishis to fight.  Nara, then, O Bharata, taking up a handful of grass-blades, said, ’Desirous of battle as thou art, come, O Kshatriya, and fight!  Take up all thy arms, and array thy troops.  I will curb thy eagerness for battle hereafter!’ Dambhodbhava then said, If, O ascetic, thou thinkest this weapon of thine fit to be used against us, I shall fight with thee though thou mayest use that weapon, for I have come hither desirous of fighting.’  Saying this, Dambhodbhava with all his troops, desirous of slaying that ascetic, covered all sides with a shower of arrows.  That ascetic, however, by means of those blades of grass, baffled all those terrible shafts of the king that were capable of mangling the bodies of hostile warriors.  The invincible Rishi then let off towards the king his own terrible weapon made of grass-blades and which was incapable of being counteracted.  And highly wonderful was that which happened, for that ascetic, incapable of missing his aim, pierced and cut off, by those grass-blades alone, the eyes and ears and noses of the hostile warriors, aided also by his power of illusion.  And beholding the entire welkin whitened by those grass-blades, the king fell at the feet of the Rishi and said, ’Let me be blessed!  Ever inclined to grant protection unto those that sought it, Nara then, O king, said unto that monarch, ’Be obedient to the Brahmanas and be virtuous.  Never do so again.  O king, O tiger among monarchs, a conqueror of hostile towns, a Kshatriya mindful of the duties of his own or, should never, within even his heart, be as thou art.  Filled with pride, never insult anybody on any occasion, be inferior or superior to thee.  Even such conduct would befit thee.  Acquiring wisdom, abandoning covetousness and pride, controlling thy soul, restraining thy passions, practising forgiveness and humility, and becoming amiable, O king, go, and cherish thy subjects.