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VASUDEVA'S MARRIAGE WITH KANAKAVATI 111 crowded with hundreds of wild animals, filled with Bhillas who were hunters, its surface uneven with tusks of forestelephants killed by lions, the play-ground of Yama, as it were.
Going ahead he saw Bhillas with bows drawn to their ears, cruel, resembling messengers of Yama, approaching. Some of the Bhillas danced, as if engaged in a drinking-party; some played a horn, resembling elephants with one tusk; some made a confused noise, like dancers on a stage, et cetera; some rained arrows, like clouds streams of water; others slapped their hands, like wrestlers in combat;127 all together surrounded Nala, like dogs an elephant. Quickly Naişadhi descended from the chariot, drew his sword from its scabbard, and made its blade dance in his fist like a dancer on a stage. Bhīma's daughter also left the chariot, took Nala by the arm, and said: "What is this challenge on your part to these people, like that of a lion to hares? Naişadhi's sword, the abode of the Sri of victory over half of Bharata, will be shamed by being employed against these cattle.'
After saying this, Bhīma's daughter gave menacing shouts repeatedly, like a sorceress in a circle, 128 to accomplish her wishes. These menacing shouts given by Bhaimi became sharp iron needles, when they entered the Bhillas' ears, by her power. All the Bhillas fled in every direction and they (Nala and Davadanti) went far from their chariot, while pursuing them.
Now their chariot was seized by other Bhillas. What can heroism do when fate follows a crooked course? Nala took Bhaimi by the hand, recalling the handtaking festival (at the marriage-ceremony), and wandered in this terrible forest. Vaidarbhi made the ground of the forest marked with cochineal, as it were, by the drops of blood dripping from her feet pierced by darbha grass. Formerly Bhaimi's head was
127 492. A form of challenge still in use. Cf. I, p. 125 and n. 164. 128 496. Cf. I, n. 186.
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