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43M
 
The Concluding Canto
 

 
(Translation of slōkās available completely in the

concluding canto)
 

 
Slöōkās 1 to 20: The final battle with the Muslims.
 

 
1. Bow-men severed the hands of elephant riders

with Ardhachandra arrows; and they fell down in the

pool of blood in the battle field like serpents in the

sacrificial fire of Pariīkshit's son.
 

 
2. Pearls from the broken heads of elephants in

rut attacked by heroic warriors, fell down blood-tinged

like sparks produced in sudden collision.
 

 
3. No sooner did a horseman begin to return after

having cut with his sword the frontal globe of an

elephant than that elephant was seen seizing his horse

between his legs and squeezing him.
 

 
4. The blood flowing from the wounded frontal

globes of elephants was seen, being drunk through

their trunks by some night-prowling demons in great

glee, spitting the pearls that also came with the blood
 

stream.
 

 
5. Birds of prey with a view to taste the inner

flesh entered into the body of a dead elephant making

it quiver; jackals that mistook it for sign of life fled

away, though they very much loved to feast on the

body.
 

 
6. Just as the heads cut by wheels were about to

fall down, they were snatched away quite afresh with
 
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