Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 3

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

Page 76

ŚREVĀNSANĀTHACARITRA
47
Hayagriva and the younger brother of Bala agreed on these terms and had the soldiers stopped from battle by the mace-bearer.
Duel between Triprstha and Hayagrīva (672–752)
Placing one hand on the middle of the bow and the other on the side of the notched end, Hayagrīva strung his bow which was terrifying like Yama's brow. With his hand Mayüragrīva's son made the bowstring resound like the string of a lute in a concert for the amusement of the Sri of battle. Sārngapāņi (Triprştha) also strung his bow at once, indicating the destruction of enemies, like a matsya which has appeared at night. 87 Vişņu made a noise with the bow that was as terrible as the noise of a thunderbolt, a charm for the summoning of death, destroying the strength of enemies. Hayakandhara drew an arrow from the quiver, like a serpent from a cave, fitted it to the bow, and drew it back to his ear. He discharged the terrible arrow, blazing with light, that was like a leer from Death, like a flame of the fire at the end of the world. Keśava, whose power was unbroken, cut it as it fell, with an arrow discharged at once, like cutting a lotus-tendril. The younger brother of Acala split Hayagrīva's bow with a second arrow like the first in speed. Again and again, whatever bow Hayagrīva took up, Triprstha cut down, as well as his wish, with arrows.
With one arrow Hari cut down Pratihari's banner and with another overthrew the chariot from afar like a piece of a castor-bean plant. Hayagriva, angered, got into another chariot and came from a distance raining
87 674. Niśāmatsyamiyodgatam is rather puzzling.- PH gives "Rāhu' as one meaning for maccha (matsya), which seems a possible interpretation here. Rāhu is an ominous planet. I owe this suggestion to Muni Jayantavijayaji. Possibly it refers to an eclipse, which is one meaning of Rähu.