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Havinc thus directed his brother, the highly energe son of Raghu equipped himself with his gold-hilted scimit And girting himself with his bow bent at three places, wh served him as an ornament,—as well as a couple of quive

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wiat one of fierce energy sallied out. Seeing that foremost zf monarchs approach, that best of beasts from fear risappeared; and then again showed himself. Thereat jirt with the bow and sword, (Rama) rushed where the deer gas; and beheld him illumining all before him with his jeauty,—and bow in hand (Rama beheld) him in that vast orest, darting away after gazing at him,—and sometimes yeeming to have got beyond arrow range, and at others empting R4ma (by his vicinity). And sometimes influenced »y fear and bewildered, (the deer) seemed to course the welkin; and in the forest now he became visible and now vanished from sight. And like the autumual lunar disc enveloped by indented clouds, he momentarily showed himself, and anon discovered himself at a distance. And Maricha wearing the shape of a deer, showing himself and disappearing from sight, drew Raghava a long way from the hermitage. Thereat Rama, eagerly anxious to secure the deer, being foiled by the deer, and in consequence growing enraged, wearicd out, rested under a shadow, on a sward. And that ranger of the night, wearing the form of a deer, maddening R&ma, discovered himself (again) at a distance surrounded by (other) deer. And Rama desirous of taking (the beast), seeing him again, set off at speed. At the very moment the deer disappeared from fear; and again showed himself at a distance behind atree. And seeing him, the exceedingly energetic and strong Raghava, determined to slay him, growing wroth, taking out a flaming shaft, resembling the rays of the sun, powerfully drew his bow, and firmly setting the shaft, and aiming it at the deer, let go the blazing and burning weapon forged by Brahma, resembling a flaming serpent. And that best of arrows, like unto a thunderbolt, deeply pierced the breast of Maricha, wearing the shape of a deer. Thereat bounding up high as a palmyra palm, that one whose saws had almost run out, uttered terrible sounds, lying on the earth. And while on the point

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of death, Maricha renounced his counterfeit shape. And remembering the words of Ravana, the Rakshasa reflected, “By what means can Sita send away Lakshmana, and Ravana carry off Sita staying in solitude?” And pierced to the marrow by that peerless shaft, Maricha, renouncing his deer form, resumed his Rakshasa lineaments; and giving up his life attaining a huge person, considering the time had come (for availing himself of the advice tendered by Ravana), began to cry with the voice of Raghava, “Ah Sita! Ah Lakshmana!”’ And seeing that grim-visaged Rakshasa lying low on the ground, with his person bathed in blood, and rolling hither and thither, Rima proceeded towards the asylum, thinking of Sit& and revolving within himself Lakshmana’s words. While returning he thought aside “Lakshmana said before that this was M§@richa’s illusion |” His words have been verified now. Truly have I killed M@richa. M§richa has given up his ghost exclaiming aloud Ah! Sita, Ah! Lakshmana. I do not know what shall Sita do hearing the cry? And what shall the mighty-armed Lakshmana do?” While pondering thus the hairs of the virtuous-souled Rdma stood on their end. Killing that Rakshasa assuming the shape of a deer and hearing his terrible cry Rama was overwhelmed with fear arising out of sorrow. Thereupon killing a deer and taking its flesh he hastened towards Janasthana.