Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 3

Author(s): Hemchandracharya, Helen M Johnson
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra

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Hari, possessing a wealth of heroism, threw away his weapons. "Come, come, sir, I am going to take away your itch for battle, lion," Tripṛṣṭha, surpassing Purandara in strength, said. The lion, too, furious with a spasm of anger, uttered that same speech, as it were, in the guise of a mountain-echo. The young lion reflected: "Oh, that boy acts very impetuously, since he came without an army, since he got down from his chariot, threw away his weapons, and challenged me aloud. Like a silly frog that has jumped against a serpent, let him take the consequences of his boldness."
CHAPTER ONE
With these reflections, the lion, holding his tail erect, having the appearance of a lion that has fallen from a Vidyadhara's chariot in the sky, leaped at once. As he fell, Kesava caught his jaws in his hands, one in one hand, the other in the other hand, like the jaws of a serpent in a pair of pincers. Pulling one jaw in one direction, and the other in the other direction, Visņu tore him apart, like tearing a piece of cloth, with a ripping sound. Just then a cry of "Hail! Hail!" filling the space between heaven and earth, was made repeatedly by the people like councillors, like bards. The Vidyadharas, gods, and demons who had assembled in the sky from curiosity rained flowers on him, like a wind from Malaya. The two parts of the lion's body, which had been thrown on the ground instantly, quivered, consciousness being retained voluntarily from anger.
The lion, whose body had been subjected to another with great disgrace, though divided in two parts, quivering, thought: "I who, falling like a thunderbolt, was not conquered by powerful princes, surrounded by armed soldiers, and also armed themselves, have been killed, alas! by this boy alone, unarmed, with his soft hand. That is what grieves me, not merely being killed." Knowing his thoughts as he rolled on the ground, like a serpent, with this anxiety, Visņu's charioteer spoke gently: "O lion, by whom rutting elephants were torn apart with ease, unsubdued by a hun