with the melodious notes of the male _Kokila_ and the
_Chakora_. And buffaloes and boars and deer and _Chamaras_ wandered
there at pleasure freed from the fear of tigers. And elephants with the
juice trickling down from rent temples, plunging in the stream, sported
with the she-elephants and made the entire region resound with their
roars. And the place also echoed with the loud roars of lions and
tigers, while at intervals might be seen those grisly monarchs of the
forest lying stretched in caves and glens and beautifying them with
their presence. And such was the asylum, like unto heaven itself, of
Dadhicha, that the gods entered. And there they beheld Dadhicha looking
like the sun himself in splendour and blazing in grace of person like
the Grandsire himself. And the celestials saluted the feet of the Rishi
and bowed unto him and begged of him the boon that the Grandsire had
bade them do. Then Dadhicha, well pleased, addressing those foremost of
celestials, said, "Ye celestials, I will do what is for your benefit. I
will even renounce this body of mine myself." And that foremost of men
with soul under control, having said this, suddenly renounced his life.
The gods then took the bones of the deceased Rishi as directed. And the
celestials, glad at heart, went to Twashtri (the celestial Artificer)
and spake to him of the means of victory. And Twashtri, hearing those
words of theirs, became filled with joy, and constructed (out of those
bones) with great attention and care the fierce weapons called _Vajra_.
And having manufactured it, he joyfully addressed Indra, saying, "With
this foremost of weapons, O exalted one, reduce that fierce foe of the
gods to ashes. And having slain the foe, rule thou happily the entire
domain of heaven, O chief of the celestials, with those that follow
thee." And thus addressed by Twashtri, Purandara took the _Vajra_ from
his hand, joyfully and with proper respect.'"

SECTION CI

"Lomasa said, 'Armed with the _Vajra_ then, and supported by celestials
endued with great might, Indra then approached Vritra, who was then
occupying the entire earth and the heaven. And he was guarded on all
sides by huge-bodied Kalakeyas with upraised weapons resembling gigantic
mountains with towering peaks. And the encounter that took place between
the gods and the Danavas lasted for a short while and was, O chief of
the Bharatas, terrific in the extreme, appalling as it did the three
worlds. And loud was t