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CHAPTER FIVE
been placed full well in the category of persons to be killed because of the words, 'He will be an enemy.'"
So answered with violence, the messenger got up hurriedly, went to Niśumbha, and told him everything in detail. After hearing that speech, Niśumbha, killer of enemies, angered, set out for Aśvapura, covering the earth with soldiers. When Vişņu, conqueror of enemies, heard that Niśumbha had started, he started at once with his whole army and his elder brother. Niśumbha and Purusasinha met in the middle of the road, eager to kill each other, like two rutting elephants. The soldiers of the two armies fought, shaking heaven and earth by the echoes of their shouts, of the twanging of their bows, and of slaps with their hands.198 Destruction of the two armies indifferent to self-protection took place at once, like that of the end of the world. Followed by Halin like a fire by the wind, Śārngadhanvan, standing in his chariot, blew Pāñcajanya. At its loud sound, the enemy-soldiers on all sides trembled as if at the terrible sound of a falling thunderbolt.
"Stay! Stay! You who think yourself a soldier," challenging aloud with these words, Pratihari started in his chariot toward Hari to fight. Hari and Pratihari twanged their bows, each one bending his brow in a frown terrible from anger. They both rained arrows, like clouds raining streams of water, making the Khecaras tremble like deer by their lion-roars. The battle-field had the appearance of the ocean covered with reeds from its piles of arrows that fell unceasingly. They fought with weapons thrown by hand, thrown by machines, ones which may be thrown or not thrown, and also other weapons, 199 like two timingilas 200 in the ocean of battle.
198 169. See I, n. 164. 190 177. Cf. Oppert, pp. ro ff.
200 177. Evidently considered a fighting-fish, though not so recorded elsewhere that I can find.
Іов
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