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MARRIAGES OF SAMBA AND PRADYUMNA
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and by the sound of the drums, like crocodiles in the ocean. The three generals, Nemi,219 Anādhṛṣṭi, and Pārtha, strode, raining arrows, like very powerful oceans at the end of the world. The kings placed in the cart formation at the joints at the rim fled, unable to endure the heroism of their arms. The wheel-formation was broken in three places by the three, like the bank of a mountain-stream by wild elephants bent down (to strike). They themselves entered the wheel-formation, like the currents of rivers by which paths had been made, and other soldiers after them. Duryodhana, Raudhira, Rukmin these three kings stopped the soldiers and rose up, eager to fight. Surrounded by warrior-kings, Duryodhana blocked Partha, Raudhira blocked Anādhṛṣṭi, and Rukmin blocked Mahānemi. Duels between these six took place; and between other warriors, their partisans, by the thousand.
Mahānemi impatient, deprived Rukmin, who thought himself a hero, shouting defiance, arrogant, of his weapons and his chariot. To protect Rukmin who had approached the point of death, seven kings, Satruntapa and others, came together in the gaps. While these seven were raining arrows at the same time, Śaiveya (Neminātha) struck down their bows, like lotusstalks, with arrows. After he had fought for a long time, Śatruntapa threw a spear at the enemy and all the Yadus were terrified, seeing it burst into flames. Servants, originating from the end of the spear, carrying various weapons, committing cruel acts, fell into the air by the thousand.
Then Mätali said to Ariṣṭanemi: "This king got that from the Indra Bali by penance, like Rāvaṇa from Dharaṇa. This must be destroyed by a thunderbolt." At Nemi's command he fastened a thunderbolt to Mahanemi's arrow rapidly. Hurling the thunderbolt-arrow quickly, Mahānemi made the spear fall to the ground and deprived the king of weapon and chariot. Samudra's son (Nemi) destroyed the bows of the
219 274. Nemi alone usually means Arişṭanemi, but here it refers to Mahānemi.
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