who was desirous of battle with him, O monarch.  The daughter of the snake, with every limb possessed of beauty, viz., Ulupi, said these words consistent with righteousness and duty unto the prince who was conversant with righteousness and duty,—­’Know that I am thy mother Ulupi that am the daughter of a snake.  Do thou accomplish my behest, O son, for thou wouldst then attain to great merit.  Fight thy father, this foremost one of Kuru’s race, this hero that is irresistible in battle.  Without doubt, he will then be gratified with thee.’  In this way was king Vabhruvahana incited against his sire by his (step) mother.  At last, endued as he was with great energy, he made up his mind, O chief of the Bharata’s, to fight Dhananjaya.  Putting on his armour of bright gold and his effulgent head-gear, he ascended an excellent car which had hundreds of quivers ready on it.  That car was equipt with necessaries for battle and had steeds yoked to it that were endued with the speed of the mind.  It had excellent wheels and a strong Upashkara, and was adorned with golden ornaments of every kind.  Raising his standard which was decorated most beautifully and which bore the device of a lion in gold, the handsome prince Vabhruvahana proceeded against his sire for battle.  Coining upon the sacrificial steed which was protected by Partha, the heroic prince caused it to be seized by persons well-versed in horse-lore.  Beholding the steed seized, Dhananjaya became filled with joy.  Standing on the Earth, that hero began to resist the advance of his son who was on his car.  The king afflicted the hero with repeated showers of shafts endued with whetted points and resembling snakes of virulent poison.  The battle that took, place between sire and son was incomparable.  It resembled the encounter between the deities and the Asuras of old.  Each was gratified with obtaining the other for an antagonist.  Then Vabhruvahana, laughing, pierced the diadem-decked Arjuna, that foremost of men, in the shoulder with a straight shaft.  Equipt with feathers, that shaft penetrated Arjuna’s body like a snake penetrating on an anthill.  Piercing the son of Kunti through, the shaft went deep into the Earth.  Feeling acute pain, the intelligent Dhananjaya rested awhile, supporting himself on his excellent bow.  He stood, having recourse to his celestial energy and seemed to outward appearance like one deprived of life.  That foremost of men, then regaining consciousness, praised his son highly.  Possessed of great splendour, the son of Sakra said, ’Excellent, Excellent, O mighty-armed one, O son of Chitrangada!  O son, beholding this feat, so worthy of thee, I am highly gratified with thee.  I shall now shoot these arrows at thee, O son.  Stand for fight (without running away).’  Having said these words, that slayer of foes shot a shower of arrows on the prince.  King Vabhruvahana, however, with his own broad-headed shafts, cut all those arrows which were shot from Gandiva and which