Vaishampayana said — Thus went on that battle, O chief of the Bharatas, for three days between Arjuna and that prince like the encounter between him of a hundred sacrifices and Vritra.

On the fourth day, Vajradatta of great power laughed loudly and addressing Arjuna, said these words :-Wait, wait, O Arjuna! You shall not excape me alive! Killing you I shall duly discharge the water-rite of my father.

My aged father Bhagadatta, who was the friend of your father, was killed by you on account of his weight of years. Do you, however, fight me who am but a boy.

Having said these words, O you of Kuru's race, king Vajradatta, filled with anger, urged his elephant towards the son of Pandu.

Urged on by the highly intelligent Vajradatta, that prince of elephants, as if desirous of cutting through the sky, rushed towards Dhananjaya.

That best of elephants drenched Arjuna with a shower of juice emitted from the end of his trunk, like a mass of blue clouds drenching a hill with its down-pour.

Indeed, urged on by the king, the elephant, repeatedly roaring like a cloud, rushed towards Phalguna, sending forth deep noise from its mouth.

Indeed urged on by Vajradatta that prince of elephants quickly moved towards the powerful car-warrior of the Kurus, with the tread of one that seemed to dance in excitement.

Seeing that beast of Vajradatta advance towards him, that destroyer of enemies, viz., the powerful Dhananjaya, relaying on Gandiva, stood his ground without shaking with fear.

Recollecting what an obstacle Vajradatta was proving to the performance of his task, and remembering the old enmity of the house, the son of Pandu became greatly excited with rage against the king.

Worked up with rage, Dhananjaya impeded the course of that beast with a shower of arrows like the shore resisting the surging sea.

That best of elephants and beautiful in appearance, thus impeded by Arjuna, stopped in its course, with body pierced with many an arrow, like a porcupine with its quills erect.

Seeing his elephant impeded in its course, the royal son Bhagadatta, deprived of sense by anger, shot many whetted arrows at Arjuna.

The mighty-armed Arjuna baffled all those arrows with many foe-destroying arrows of his. The feat appeared to be exceedingly wonderful.

Once more the king of the Pragjyotishas, worked up with rage, forcibly urged his elephant, which resembled a mountain, at Arjuna.

Seeing the beast once more advancing towards him, Arjuna shot with great strength an arrow at it which resembled a veritable flame of fire.

Cut to the quick, O king, by the son of Pandu, the beast suddenly dropped down on the Earth like a mountain-summit loosened by a thunder-bolt.

Struck with Dhananjaya's arrow, the elephant, as it lay on the Earth, looked like a huge mountain-cliff lying on the ground, loosened by the bolt of Indra.

When the elephant of Vajradatta was prostrated on the ground the so of Pandu, addressing the king who had fallen down with his beast, said, 'Do not fear.'

Indeed, Yudhishthira of great energy said to me while commissioning me for this task even these words, viz., You should not, O Dhananjaya, kill those kings (who may give you battle).

O foremost of men, you should consider your task as accomplished if only you disable those hostile kings! You should not also, O Dhananjaya, kill the warriors of those kings who may come forth to fight you.

They should be requested to come, with all their kinsmen and friends, to the HorseSacrifice of Yudhishthira.

Having heard these commands of my brother, I shall not kill you, O king! Rise up; let no fear be yours; return to your city safe and sound, O king.

When the day of full moon in the month of Chaitra comes, you shall O great king, go to that sacrifice of king Yudhishthira the just, for it takes place. on that day!

Thus addressed by Arjuna the royal son of Bhagadatta, defeated by the son of Pandu, said, 'So be it.' that sacrifice of king Yudhishthira the just, for it takes place. on that day!

Thus addressed by Arjuna the royal son of Bhagadatta, defeated by the son of Pandu, said, 'So be it.'