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MARRIAGES OF ŚĀMBA AND PRADYUMNA 239 courage regained.
In the meantime the remaining Dhārtarāșțras were killed by Pāņdu's sons because of their own enmity, like deer by lions. Baladeva, having recovered (from the blow), fought many times, with the pestle and plow upraised, and killed the enemy-soldiers.
Now Jarāsandha said to Kșşņa: “For a long time you have remained alive only by trickery, like a jackal, sir cowherd. Kansa was killed by a trick; Kāla too was killed by a trick. Indeed, you, unskilled in weapons, have not put up any fight. Now I shall put an end to your trickery and to your life at the same time, villain. Now I shall carry out my promise to Jīvayasas."
Krşņa smiled and said: “O king, you have spoken the truth. I am such a person (as you say). But your own skill in weapons must be shown. I am not boastful like you. However, I say only this. Your daughter's vow to enter the fire will be fulfilled.”
Angered by this speech of Vişņu, Jarāsandha discharged arrows and Kțşņa destroyed them, like che sun darkness. Both, armed with bows, fought ardently like sarabhas, making all the quarters resound with the sounds of the bow. The oceans were agitated by the impact of their fight, the Khecaras in the air trembled, and the mountains shook. The earth, unable to bear the coming and going of their chariots heavy as mountains, gave up instantly all capacity for endurance. Janārdana struck down the King of Magadha's divine missiles with divine ones and iron missiles with iron ones with the greatest ease. The futility of all weapons being apparent, the King of Magadha, filled with embarrassment and anger, recalled the cakra which was difficult to check by other weapons.
Whirling the cakra, which had come at once, in the air in his hand, Magadha, blind with anger, thirsting for victory, hurled it at Krşņa. Even the Khecaras in the air trembled very much at the falling cakra and Kệşņa's soldiers, completely depressed, were terrified. Kșşņa, Rāma, the five Pāņdavas,
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