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to be approaching by Creeshna's signals ; he found that his adver- 

 sary 'had comprehended the means of his speedy destruction, and 

 that, in consequence, a weakness had seized all his limbs, as is al- 

 ways the case with men before their death. Bheema was the con- 

 queror, and we must praise the acts of the Creator. Thus then it 

 was : Bheema put one of Jarasandha's feet beneath his own foot, 

 and took the other foot in his hand, then, with one prodigious effort, 

 tore him in halves from the base of the chine to the crown of the 

 head, so that one half fell bleeding to the ground, and the other re- 

 mained quivering under his foot. Creeshna and Arjoon applauded 

 Bheema, and the Devatas hailed him with a shower of flowers from 

 heaven, while men remained astonished spectators of the event. 

 Creeshna, for the purpose of completing the Yug of Judishter, 

 crowned Sehedeva, the son of Jarasandha, immediately in his father's 

 place, and did all he could to console him. He descanted on the 

 fickleness of fortune and the rapidity of human vicissitudes ; obser- 

 ving to him that it was the decree of fate that Jarasandha should thus 

 perish, and that he ought rather to grieve for his own continuance in 

 life than for his father's death, since he too must at some time go the 

 same road. " Now, therefore," said he, "ascend thy father's 

 throne, young prince, and release the many rajahs whom he kept 

 in confinement." 



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