Vaishampayana said The (sacrificial) horse, having wandered over the entire Earth bounded by the ocean, then ceased and turned his face toward the city of Hastinapur.

Following as he did that horse, the diademdecked Arjuna also turned his face towards the Kuru capital. Wandering at is will, the horse then came to the city of Rajagriha.

Seeing him arrived within his kingdom, O monarch, the heroic of Sahadeva, following Kshatriya duties, challenged him to battle.

Coming out of his city, Meghasandhi, mounted on his car and equipt with bow and arrows and leathern fence, rushed towards Dhananjaya who was on foot.

Gifted with great energy, Meghasandhi, approaching Dhanajaya, O king, said these words from a spirit of childishness and without son any skill.

This horse of yours, O Bharata, seems to move about, protected by women only! I shall take away the horse. Do you try to free him.

Although my sires did not teach you in battle, I, however, shall do the duties of hospitality to you. Do you strike me, for I shall strike you.

Thus addressed, the son of Pandu, smiling the while, answered him, saying, To resist him who obstructs me is the vow imposed on me by my eldest brother. Forsooth, O king, you know this. Do you strike me to the best of your power. I have no anger.

Thus addressed, the king of Magadha first struck the son of Pandu, showering his arrows on him like the thousand-eyed Indra showering a heavy downpour of rain.

Then, Ochief of Bharata's race, the heroic wielder of Gandiva, with arrows shot of that excellent bow, baffled all the arrows shot carefully at him by his adversary.

Having thus baffled that cloud of arrows, the ape-bannered hero shot a number of burning arrows at his enemy which resembled snakes with fiery mouths.

These arrows he shot at his flag and flagstaff and car and poles and yoke and the horses sparing the body of his-enemy and his cardriver.

Though Partha who was capable of shooting with the bow with the left-hand (as well as the right) spared the body of the king of Magadha, yet the latter, thinking that his body was protected by his own prowess, discharged many arrows at Partha.

The wielder of Gandiva, deeply struck by the king of Magadha, shone like a blossoming Palasha (Butea frondosa) in the season of spring.

Arjuna had no desire of killing the king of Magadha. It was for this that, having struck the son of Pandu, he succeeded in remaining before that foremost of heroes.

Then Dhananjaya, becoming angry, drew his bow with great force, and killed his antagonist's horses and then struck off the head of his car-driver.

With a razor-headed arruw he then cut off Meghasandhi's large and beautiful bow, and then his leathern fence. Then cutting off his flag and flag-staff, he caused it to fall down.

The king of Magadha greatly afflicted, and deprived of horses and bow and driver, took up a mace and rushed with great speed at the son of Kunti.

Arjuna, then, with many arrows of his equipt with his vulturine feathers, cut off into pieces, that mace of his advancing enemy which was adorned with bright gold.

Thus cut off into pieces, that mace, with its jeweiled bonds and knots all severed, fell on the Earth, like a she-snake helplessly hurled down by somebody.

When his enemy became deprived of his car, his bow, and his mace, the ape-bannered hero then, comforting his cheerless enemy who had been observant of Kshatriya duties, said to him these words: O son, you have sufficiently shorn your adherence to Kshatriya duties. Go now. Great have been the feats, O king, which you have accomplished in battle although you are very young in years.

The command I received from Yudhishthira was that kings who oppose me should not be killed. It is for this you live yet, O monarch, although you have offended me in battle.

Thus addressed, the king of Magadha considered himself defeated and spared. Thinking then that it was his duty to do so, he approached Arjuna and joining his hands in respect adored him.

And he said, Defeated have I been by you! Blessed be you, I do not venture to continue the battle. Tell me what I am to do now for you! Consider your command as already carried out.'

Comforting him again, Arjuna once more said to him. You should go to the HorseSacrifice of our king which takes place at the coming full moon of Chaitra.

Thus addressed by him, the son of Sahadeva said, So be it, and then duly adored that horse as also Phalguna, that foremost of warriors.

The sacrificial horse then, having beautiful manes, proceeded at his will along the seacoast, going to the countries of the Bangas, the Pundras, and the Kosalas.

In those kingdoms Dhananjaya, with his bow Gandiva, O king, defeated numberless Mleccha armies one after another.