ihaya race, Sumitra by
name, went out a hunting. He pursued a deer, having pierced it with a
straight shaft. Possessed of great strength, the deer ran ahead, with the
arrow sticking to him. The king was possessed of great strength, and
accordingly pursued with great speed his prey. The animal, endued with
fleetness, quickly cleared a low ground and then a level plain. The king,
young, active and strong, and armed with bow and sword and cased in mail,
still pursued it. Unaccompanied by anybody, in chasing the animal through
the forest the king crossed many rivers and streams and lakes and copses.
Endued with great speed, the animal, at its will, showing itself now and
then to the king, ran on with great speed. Pierced with many shafts by
the king, that denizen of wilderness, O monarch, as if in sport,
repeatedly lessened the distance between itself and the pursuer.
Repeatedly putting forth its speed and traversing one forest after
another, it now and then showed itself to the king at a near point. At
last that crusher of foes, taking a very superior shaft, sharp, terrible,
and capable of penetrating into the very vitals, fixed it on his
bowstring. The animal then, of huge proportions, as if laughing at the
pursuer's efforts suddenly distanced him by reaching a point full four
miles ahead of the range of the shaft. That arrow of blazing splendour
accordingly fell on the ground. The deer entered a large forest but the
king still continued the chase."'"

SECTION CXXVI

"'Bhishma said, "The king, having entered that large forest, came upon an
asylum of ascetics. Fatigued with the toil he had undergone, he sat
himself down for rest. Beholding him armed with bow, worn out with toil,
and hungry, the ascetics approached him and honoured him in due form.
Accepting the honours offered by the Rishis, the king enquired of them
about the progress and advancement of their penances. Having duly
answered the enquiries of the king, those Rishis endued with wealth of
asceticism asked that tiger among rulers about the reason that led his
steps to that retreat. And they said, 'Blessed be thou, in pursuit of
what delightful object hast thou, O king, come to this asylum, walking on
foot and armed with sword and bow and arrows? We wish to hear whence thou
art coming, O giver of honours. Tell us also in what race thou art born
and what thy name is.' Thus addressed, O bull among men, the king
proceeded to duly give unto all those Brahmanas