" said,--"That mighty king who desired not to fight with , saying 'He is a slave,' was worthy of my greatest esteem. Who will regard as praiseworthy the act which was done by , as also by and , in the matter of 's death? Entering by an improper gate, disguised as a Brahmana, thus observed the strength of king . And when that monarch offered at first unto to this wretch water to wash his feet, it was then that he denied his Brahmanahood from seeming motives of virtue. And when , O thou you of the Kuru race, asked and and to eat, it was this that refused that monarch's request. If this one is the lord of the universe, as this fool representeth represents him to be, why doth does he not regard himself as a Brahmana? This, however, surpriseth surprises me greatly that though thou you leadest lead the Pandavas away from the path of the wise, they yet regard thee you as honest. Or, perhaps, this is scarcely a matter of surprise in respect of those that have thee you, O Bharata, womanish in disposition and bent down with age, for their counsellor in everything."
" continued,--Hearing these words of , harsh both in import and sound, that foremost of mighty men, endued with energy became angry. And his eyes, naturally large and expanding and like unto to lotus leaves became still more extended and red as copper under the influence of that rage. And the assembled monarchs beheld on his forehead three lines of wrinkles like the of treble currents on the treble-peaked mountain. When began to grind his teeth in rage, the monarchs beheld his face resembling that of Death himself, at the end of the Yuga, prepared to swallow every creature. And as the hero endued with great energy of mind was about to leap up impetuously, the mighty-armed caught him like seizing Mahasena (the celestial generalissimo). And, O Bharata, 's wrath was soon appeased by , the grand-sire of the Kurus, with various kinds of counsel. And , that chastiser of foes, could not disobey 's words, like the ocean that never transgresseth transgresses (even when swollen with the waters of the rainy season) its continents. But, O king, even though was angry, the brave depending on his own manhood, did not tremble in fear. And though was leaping up impetuously every moment, bestowed not a single thought on him, like a lion that recks not a little animal in rage. The powerful king of Chedi, beholding of terrible prowess in such rage, laughingly said,--'Release him, O ! Let all the monarchs behold him scorched by my prowess like an insect in fire.' Hearing these words of the ruler of the Chedis, , that foremost of the Kurus and chief of all intelligent men, spoke unto to these words."
" said,--This was born in the line of the with three eyes and four hands. As soon as he was born, he screamed and brayed like an ass. On that account, his father and mother along with their relatives, were struck with fear. And beholding these extraordinary omens, his parents resolved to abandon him. But an incorporeal voice, about this time, said unto to the king and his wife with their ministers and priest, all with hearts paralysed by anxiety, those words,--'This thy your son, O king, that hath has been born will become both fortunate and superior in strength. Therefore thou you hast have no fear from him. Indeed cherish the child without anxiety. He will not die (in childhood). His time is not yet come. He that will slay him with weapons hath has also been born.' Hearing these words, the mother, rendered anxious by affection for her son, addressed the invisible Being and said,--I bow with joined hands unto to him that hath has uttered these words respecting my son; whether he be an exalted divinity or any other being, let him tell me another word, I desire to hear who will be the slayer of this my son. The invisible Being then said,--'He upon whose lap this child being placed the superfluous arms of his will fall down upon the ground like a pair of five-headed snakes, and at the sight of whom his third eye on the forehead will disappear, will be his slayer?' Hearing of the child's three eyes and four arms as also of the words of the invisible Being, all the kings of the earth went to Chedi to behold him. The worshipping, as each deserved, the monarchs that came, gave his child upon their laps one after another. And though the child was placed upon the laps of a thousand kings, one after another, yet that which the incorporeal voice had said came not to pass. And having heard of all this at Dwaravati, the mighty Yadava heroes and also went to the capital of the Chedis, to see their father's sister--that daughter of the Yadavas (the queen of Chedi) And saluting everybody according to his rank and the king and queen also, and enquiring after every body's welfare, both Rama and took their seats. And after those heroes had been worshipped, the queen with great pleasure herself placed the child on the lap of Damodara. As soon as the child was placed on his lap, those superfluous arms of his fell down and the eye on his forehead also disappeared. And beholding this, the queen in alarm and anxiety begged of a boon. And she said,--'O mighty-armed , I am afflicted with fear; grant me a boon. Thou you art the assurer of all afflicted ones and that the dispeller of everybody's fear. Thus addressed by her. , that son of the Yadu race, said--'Fear not, O respected one. Thou you art acquainted with morality. Thou you needest have no fear from me. What boon shall I give thee you? What shall I do, O aunt? Whether able or not, I shall do thy your bidding.'--Thus spoken to by , the queen said, 'O thou you of great strength, thou you wilt will have to pardon the offences of for my sake. O tiger of the Yadu race. Know O lord, even this is the boon that I ask.' then said, 'O aunt, even when he will deserve to be slain, I will pardon an hundred offences of his. Grieve thou you not.'
" continued,--'Even thus, O , is this wretch of a king-- of wicked heart, who, proud of the boon granted by , summons thee you to battle!'"
" said,--The will under which the ruler of Chedi summoneth summons thee you to fight though thou you art of strength that knoweth knows no deterioration, is scarcely his own intention. Assuredly, this is the purpose of himself, the lord of the universe. O , what king is there on earth that would dare abuse me thus, as this wretch of his race, already possessed by Death, hath has done to-day? This mighty-armed one is, without doubt, a portion of 's energy. And surely, the Lord desireth desires to take back unto to himself that energy of his own. In consequence of this, O tiger of the Kuru race, this tiger-like , so wicked of heart, roareth roars in such a way caring little for us all."
" continued,--"Hearing these words of , the could bear no more, He then replied in rage unto to in these words.--
'Let our foes, O , be endued with that prowess which this hath has, whom thou you like a professional chanter of hymns praisest, rising repeatedly from thy your seat. If thy your mind, O , delighteth delights so in praising others, then praise thou you these kings, leaving off . Praise thou you this excellent of kings, Darada, the ruler of Valhika, who rent this earth as soon as he was born. Praise thou you, O , this , the ruler of the territories of Anga and Vanga, who is equal in strength unto to him of a thousand eyes, who draweth draws a large bow, who endued with mighty arms owneth owns celestial ear-rings of heavenly make with which he was born and this coat of mail possessing the splendour of the rising sun, who vanquished in a wrestling encounter the invincible equal unto to himself, and who tore and mangled that monarch. O , praise and , who both father and son, are mighty warriors, worthy of praise, and the best of Brahmanas, and either of whom, O , if enraged could annihilate this earth with its mobile and immobile creatures, as I believe. I do not behold, O , the king that is equal in battle unto to or . Why wishest wish thou you not to praise them? Passing over , that mighty-armed king of kings, who is unequalled in whole earth girt with her seas and king accomplished in weapons and endued with great prowess, and Druma the preceptor of the Kimpurushas and celebrated over the world for prowess, and Saradwata's son, old , the preceptor of the Bharata princes and endued with great energy, why dost do thou you praise ? Passing over that foremost of bowmen--that excellent of kings, Rukmin of great energy, why praisest thou you ? Passing over Bhishmaka of abundant energy, and king , and known for his innumerable sacrificial stakes, and Jayatsena the king of the Magadha, and and , and and Vrihadvala, and Vinda and Anuvinda of Avant Pandya, Sweta Uttama Sankhya of great prosperity, the proud Vrishasena, the powerful , and the great charioteer Kalinga of abundant energy, why dost do thou you praise ? And, O , if thy your mind is always inclined to sing the praises of others, why dost do thou you not praise and other rulers of the earth? O king, what can be done by me when (it seemeth seems) thou you hast have not heard anything before from virtuous old men giving lessons in morality? Hast have thou you never heard, O , that reproach and glorification, both of self and others, are not practices of those that are respectable? There is no one that approveth approves thy your conduct, O , in unceasingly praising with devotion, from ignorance alone, so unworthy of praise. How dost do thou you, from thy your wish alone, establish the whole universe in the servitor and cowherd of Bhoja (Kansa)? Perhaps, O Bharata, this thy your inclination is not conformable to thy your true nature, like to what may be in the bird Bhulinga, as hath has already been said by me. There is a bird called Bhulinga living on the other side of the Himavat. O , that bird ever uttereth utters words of adverse import. Never do anything rash,--this is what she always sayeth says, but never understandeth understands that she herself always acteth acts very rashly. Possessed of little intelligence that bird picketh picks from the lion's mouth the pieces of flesh sticking between the teeth, and at a time when the lion is employed in eating. Assuredly, O , that bird liveth lives at the pleasure of the lion. O sinful wretch, thou you always speakest speak like that bird. And assuredly, O , thou you art alive at the pleasure only of these kings. Employed in acts contrary to the opinions of all, there is none else like thee you!"
" continued,--Hearing these harsh words of the ruler of Chedi, , O king, said in the hearing of the ,--'Truly am I alive at the pleasure of these rulers of earth. But I do regard these kings as not equal to even a straw.' As soon as these words were spoken by , the kings became inflamed with wrath. And the down of some amongst them stood erect and some began to reprove . And hearing those words of , some amongst them, that were wielders of large bows exclaimed, 'This wretched , though old, is exceedingly boastful. He deserveth deserves not our pardon. Therefore, ye you kings, incensed with rage as this is, it is well that this wretch were slain like an animal, or, mustering together, let us burn him in a fire of grass or straw.' Hearing these words of the monarchs, the grand-sire of the Kurus, endued with great intelligence, addressing those lords of earth, said,--'I do not see the end of our speeches, for words may be answered with words. Therefore, ye you lords of earth, listen ye you all unto to what I say. Whether I be slain like an animal or burnt in a fire of grass and straw, thus do I distinctly place my foot on the heads of ye you all. Here is , that knoweth knows no deterioration. Him have we worshipped. Let him who wisheth wishes for speedy death, summon to battle of dark hue and the wielder of the discus and the mace; and falling enter into and mingle with the body of this god!"