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246 and such the skill with which he protected himself, that the contending car-warriors, though his enemies, began to applaud him loudly. Then that foremost of all wielders of weapons having vanquished in battle all those monarchs, pursued his way towards the capital of the Bharatas, taking those maidens with him.

"It was then, O king, that mighty car-warrior, king Salya of immeasurable prowess, from bebind summoned Bhishma, the son of Santanu to an encounter. And desirous of obtaining the maidens, be came upon Bhishma like a mighty leader of a herd of elephants rushing upon another of his kind, and tearing with his tusks the latter's hips at the sight of a female elephant in heat. And Salya of mighty arms, moved by wrath addressed Bhishma and said, -'Stay. Stay.' Then Bhishma, that tiger among men, that grinder of hostile armies, provoked by these words, flamed up in wrath like a blazing fire. Bow in hand, and brow furrowed into wrinkles, he stayed on his car, in obedience to Kshatriya usage having checked its course in expectation of the enemy. All the manarchs seeing him stop, stood there to become spectators of the coming encounter between him and Salya. The two then began to exhibit their prowess, (upon each other) like roaring bulls of great strength at the sight of a cow in rut. Then that foremost of men, king Salya, covered Bhishma, the son of Santanu with hundreds and thousands of swift-winged shafts, And those monarchs seeing Salya thus covering Bhishma at the outset with innumerable shafts, wondered much and uttered shouts of applause. Beholding his lightness of band in combat, the crowd of regal spectatots became very glad and applauded Salya greatly. That subjugator of hostile towns, Bhishma then, on hearing those shouts of the Kshatriyas, became very angry and said, 'Stay, Stay'. In wrath, he commanded his charioteer, sa ying. -Lead thou my car to where Salya is so that I may slay him instantly as Garuda slays a serpent.' Then the Kuru chief fixed the Varuna weapon on his bow-string. and with it afflicted the four steeds of king Salya. And, O tiger among kings, the Kuru chief then, warding off with his weapons those of his foe, slew Salya's charioteer. Then that first of men, Bhishma, the son of Santanu, fighting for the sake of those damsels, slew with the Aindra weapon the noble steeds of his adversary. He then vanquished that best of monarchs but left him with his life. O bull of Bhatata's race, Salya, after his defeat, returned to his kingdom and continued to rule it virtuously, And O conqueror of hostile towns, the other kings also, who had come to witness self-choice ceremony returned to their own kingdoms.

"That foremost of smiters, viz., Bhishma, after defeating those monarchs, set out with those da msels, for Hastinapura whence the virtuous Kuru prince Vichitravirya ruled the Earth like that best of monarchs,