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renders thee invisible.—Mádhavya, stand firm; and thou, blood-thirsty fiend, think not of destroying him whom I love and will protect.—See, I thus fix a shaft which shall pierce thee, who deservest death, and shall save a Bráhmen who deserves long life; as the celestial bird sips the milk, and leaves the water which has been mingled with it.

[He draws the bow string.

Mát. The god Indra has destined evil demons to fall by thy shafts: against them let thy bow be drawn, and cast on thy friends eyes bright with affection.

Dushm. [Astonished, giving back his arms.] Oh! Mátali, welcome; I greet the driver of Indra's car.

Mádh. What! this cutthroat was putting me to death, and thou greetest him with a kind welcome!

Mát. [Smiling.] O king, live long and conquer! Hear on what errand I am dispatched by the ruler of the firmament.

Dushm. I am humbly attentive.

Mát. There is a race of Dánavas, the children of Cálanémi, whom it is found hard to subdue—

Dushm. This I have heard already from Náred.

Mát. The god with an hundred sacrifices, unable to quell that gigantick race, commissions thee, his approved friend, to assail them in the front of battle; as the sun with seven steeds