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unreflecting, of little wit, has sent this arrow into our house? I shall take away his arrogance, as Suparṇa takes away that of the serpent." Saying this, the Lord of Magadha stood up impetuously. He pulled the hilt of his sword from its scabbard, like a serpent from a cave, and waved it in the sky, giving the illusion of a comet. His entire retinue, hard to restrain like the ocean-current, got up together in a fit of anger. Some with their swords made the sky appear to have black lightning; some by their shining shields made it appear to have several moons; some waved in the sky lances, extremely sharp as if made from whole rows of Kṛtānta's teeth; some took up axes resembling tongues of fire; some took hammers with ends terrifying to Rāhu; others took spears in their hands, superior to a crore of thunderbolts; others took up rods cruel as the rod of Yama; some clapped their hands, a cause of enemies' scattering; some gave a lion's roar like loud thunder; some said, "Kill, kill!" others, Capture, capture!" some, "Wait, wait!" others, "Go, go!"
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While his retinue was engaged in various preparations of this sort, his minister examined the arrow carefully. The chief-minister saw on the arrow words like the words of a divine charm, powerful, noble. "If you have need of your kingdom or your life, then pay homage to us with the gift of your wealth. It is the Cakravartin Bharata, son of Rṣabha Svamin-the Lord of gods, asuras, and men who gives you this order in person." When the minister had seen these words, he understood by clairvoyant knowledge and, showing the arrow to his master, said emphatically, "Oh! all of you courtiers, shame on you urging violence. With the idea of benefiting the Master, you are doing him an injury, thinking yourselves devoted. Bharata became the first çakravartin in Bharataksetra. He is the son of the first Tirtheśa, Rṣabha Svāmin. Cruel in his commands like Pākaśāsana, he asks for tribute from you and wishes to impose his own
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