issuing out of his body.  Rama, O king, shone in battle, like the Sumeru mountain with streams of liquid metal rolling down its breast, or like the Asoka tree at the advent of spring, when covered with red bunches of flowers, or, O king, like the Kinsuka tree when clad in its flowery attire!  Taking up then another bow, Rama, filled with wrath, showered upon me numerous arrows of excessive sharpness, furnished with golden wings.  And those fierce arrows of tremendous impetus, resembling snakes, or fire, or poison, coming at me from all sides, pierced my very vitals and caused me to tremble.  Summoning all my coolness then addressed myself for the encounter, and filled with rage I pierced Rama with a hundred arrows.  And afflicted with those hundred blazing shafts resembling either fire, or the sun or looking like snakes of virulent poison, Rama seemed to lose his senses!  Filled, O Bharata, with pity (at the sight), I stopped of my own accord and said,—­Oh, fie on battle!  Fie on Kshatriya practices!  And overwhelmed, O king, with grief, I repeatedly said,—­Alas, great is the sin committed by me through observance of Kshatriya practices, since I have afflicted with arrows my preceptor who is a Brahmana endued with a virtuous soul!—­After that, O Bharata, I ceased striking Jamadagni’s son any more.  At this time, the thousand-rayed luminary, having heated the earth with his rays, proceeded at the close of day to his chambers in the west and the battle also between us ceased.’”

SECTION CLXXXIII

“Bhishma said, ’After the battle had ceased, my charioteer, well-skilled in such operations, drew out from his own body, from the bodies of my steeds, and from my body as well, the arrows that struck there.  Next morning, when the sun rose, the battle commenced again, my horses having (a little while before) been bathed and allowed to roll on the ground and having had their thirst slaked and thereby re-invigorated.  And beholding me coming quickly to the encounter attired in a coat of mail and stationed on my car, the mighty Rama equipped his car with great care.  And I myself also, beholding Rama coming towards me from desire of battle, placed aside my bow and quickly descended from my car.  Saluting Rama I re-ascended it, O Bharata, and desirous of giving battle, stood fearlessly before that son of Jamadagni.  I then overwhelmed him with a thick shower of arrows, and he too covered me with an arrowy shower in return.  And filled with wrath.  Jamadagni’s son once more shot at me a number of fierce shafts of great force and blazing mouths looking like veritable snakes!  And I too, O king, shooting sharp shafts by hundreds and thousands, repeatedly cut:  off Rama’s arrows in mid-air before they could come at me.  Then the mighty son of Jamadagni began to hurl celestial weapons at me, all of which I repelled, desirous of achieving mightier feats, O thou of strong arms, with-my weapons.  And loud was the din that then arose