Hearing that his father Arjuna had arrived within his kingdom, the king of Manipura, Babhruvahana went out with humility, with a number of Brahmanas and some treasure in his van.

Remembering, however, the duties of Kshatriyas, the highly intelligent Dhananjaya, seeing the king of Manipura arrive in that guise, did not approve of it.

The righteous-souled Phalguna angrily said, Your conduct is not proper. You have certainly fallen away from Kshatriya duties.

I have come here as the protector of Yudhishthira's sacrificial horse. Why, O son, will you not fight me, seeing that I have come within your territories?

Fie on you, O you of foolish understanding, Fie on you who have deviated from Kshatriya duties! Fie on you who would receive me peacefully even though I have come here for fighting with you.

In thus receiving me peacefully you act like a woman. O you of wretched understanding, if I had come to you, leaving aside my arms, then would this conduct of yours have been fit, O worst of men!" Learning that these words were addressed by her husband, the daughter of the Snake King, viz., Ulupi, unable to tolerate it, pierced through the Earth and came up there.

She saw her son standing there perfectly cheerless and with face hanging down. Indeed, the prince was repeatedly rebuked by his father who was desirous of battle with him, O monarch! The daughter of the Snake, possessed of beautiful limbs, viz., Ulupi, said these words consistent with righteousness and duty to the prince who himself was conversant with righteousness and duty.

Know that I am your mother Ulupi that am the daughter of a snake. Do you perform my order, O son for you would then acquire great merit. Fight your father, this foremost one of Kuru's race, this hero who is irresistible in battle. Forsooth, he will then be pleased with you.

Thus was king Babhruvahana incited against his father by his (step) mother. At last, gifted as he was with great energy, he made up his mind, O chief of the Bharatas, to fight Dhananjaya, Putting on his armour of bright gold and his shining head-dress, he got upon an excellent car which had hundreds of quivers ready on it. That car was equipped with necessaries for battle and had horses yoked to it which were fleet like the mind. It had excellent wheels and a strong Upashkara, and was adorned with golden ornaments of every sort.

Raising his standard which was decorated most beautifully and which bore the device of a lion in gold, the beautiful prince Babhruvahana proceeded against this father for battle.

Coming upon the sacrificial horse which was protected by Partha, the heroic prince caused it to be seized by persons well-versed in veterinary science.

Seeing the horse seized, Dhananjaya become filled with joy. Standing on the earth, that hero began to oppose the advance of his son who was on his car.

The king afflicted the hero with repeated showers of arrows gifted with whetted points and resembling snakes of dreadful poison.

Incomparable was the battle which took place between the father and son. It resembled the battle between the celestials and the Asuras of old. Each was pleased with obtaining the other for an antagonist. arrow a

Then Babhruvahana, laughing, cut the diadem-decked Arjuna, that foremost of men, in the shoulder with a straight arrow.

Equipped with feathers, that penetrated Arjuna's body like snake penetrating on an anthill. Piercing the son of Kunti through, the arrow went deep into the Earth.

Feeling acute pain, the intelligent Dhananjaya rested awhile, supporting himself on his excellent bow. He stood, having recourse to his celestial energy and seemed externally like one dead.

That foremost of men, then regaining consciousness, lauded his highly. Possessed of great splendour, the son of Shakra said, Excellent, Excellent, O mighty-armed one, O son of Chitrangada! O son, seeing this feat, so worthy of you, I am highly pleased son with you.

I shall now discharge these arrows at you, O son! Stand for fight (without running away). Having said these words, that destroyer of enemies shot a shower of arrows on the prince.

King Babhruvahana, however, with his own broad-headed arrows, cut all those arrows, which were discharged from Gandiva and which resembled the thunderbolt of Indra in splendour, some in two, and some into three, parts.

Then the standard, decked with gold and resembling a golden Palmyra, on the king's car was cut off by Partha with some excellent arrows of his.

The son of Pandu, laughing, next killed the king's horses of large size and great speed.

Descending from his car, the king, worked up with rage, fought his father on foot.

Pleased with the prowess of his son, that foremost one of the sons of Pritha, viz., the son of the wielder of the thunderbolt, began to afflict him greatly.

The powerful Babhruvahana, thinking that his father was no longer able to face him, again afflicted him with many arrows resembling snakes of dreadful poison.

From a spirit of childishness he then vigorously cut his father in the breast with a whetted arrow having excellent wings.

That arrow, O king, penetrated the body of Pandu's son and reaching his very vitals caused him great pain. The delighter of the Kurus, Dhananjaya, deeply pierced therewith by his son, then dropped down in a swoon on the Earth, O king! When that hero, that bearer of the burthens of the Kurus, fell down, the son of Chitrangada also became unconscious. The latter's swoon was owing to his exertions in battle as also to his grief at seeing his father killed.

He had been pierced deeply by Arjuna with clouds of arrows. He, therefore dropped down at the van of battle embracing the Earth.

Hearing that her husband had been killed and that her son had fallen down on the Earth, Chitrangada, in great agitation of mind, went to the field of battle.

Her heart burning with sorrow, weeping piteously the while, and trembling all over, the mother of the king of Manipura saw her killed husband.