my heart.  And I then, myself, singly obtained for my adversary that invincible and mighty exterminator of the Kshatriya race, viz., Rama risen like the sun himself in splendour, desirous (on his part) of fighting singly!  And after he had poured three showers of arrows on me curbing my steeds, I came down from my car and placing my bow aside I proceeded on foot to that best of Rishis.  And arriving before him, I worshipped the best of Brahmanas with reverence.  And having saluted him duly, I told him these excellent words,—­O Rama, whether thou art equal or superior to me, I will fight with thee, my virtuous preceptor, in battle!  O lord, bless me, wishing me victory!’

“Rama, thus addressed, said, ’O foremost one of Kuru’s race, he that desires prosperity should act even thus!  O thou of mighty arms, they that fight with warriors more eminent than themselves, have this duty to perform.  O king, I would have cursed thee if thou hadst not approached me thus!  Go, fight carefully and summoning all thy patience, O thou of Kuru’s race!  I cannot, however, wish thee victory, for I myself stand here to vanquish thee!  Go, fight fairly!  I am pleased with thy behaviour!—­Bowing unto him, I then speedily came back, and mounting on my car, I once more blew my conch decked with gold, And then, O Bharata, the combat commenced between him and me.  And it lasted for many days. each of us, O king, having been desirous of vanquishing the other.  And in that battle, it was Rama who struck me first with nine hundred and sixty straight arrows furnished with vulturine wings.  And with that arrowy shower, O king, my four steeds and charioteer were completely covered!  Notwithstanding all this, however, I remained quiet in that encounter, accoutred in my coat of mail!  Bowing unto the gods, and especially unto the Brahmanas, I then smilingly addressed Rama stationed for battle, saying,—­Although thou hast shown little regard for me, yet I have fully honoured thy preceptorship!  Listen again, O Brahmana, to some other auspicious duty that should be discharged if virtue is to be earned!  The Vedas that are in thy body, and the high status of Brahmana that is also in thee, and the ascetic merit thou hast earned by the severest of austerities, I do not strike at these!  I strike, however, at that Kshatriyahood which thou, O Rama, hast adopted!  When a Brahmana taketh up weapons, he becometh a Kshatriya.  Behold now the power of my bow and the energy of my arms!  Speedily shall I cut off that bow of thine with a sharp shaft!—­Saying this I shot at him, O bull of Bharata’s race, a sharp broad-headed arrow, And cutting off one of the horns of his bow with it.  I caused it to drop on the ground.  I then shot at Jamadagni’s car a hundred straight arrows winged with vulturine feathers.  Piercing through Rama’s body and borne along by the wind, those arrows coursing through space seemed to vomit blood (from their mouths) and resembled veritable snakes.  Covered all over with blood and with blood