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effect it was the question. After much consideration, he concluded, 

 it could only be done by the assistance of the Devatas ; and as 

 Mahadeva is the chief of them, he began a most rigorous course 

 of mortification, in which, after fasting the whole day, he took no 

 other sustenance in the evening than a handful of earth. This 

 austerity lasted a whole year ; and then Mahadeva appeared to him, 

 and bid him name his desire, and it should be gratified. He de- 

 manded revenge on his enemies. Roodra promised it, and va- 

 nished. After this, Rajah Sal built a city, and fortified the castle of 

 it in the most complete manner, to serve as an asylum in the day of 

 danger ; and then, taking with him a great army, went to Dwaraka. 

 The first effort of his fury was to cut down all the trees and plants 

 in the suburbs ; then, forcing the city-gate, and raising a lofty 

 (temporary) structure that commanded the city itself, he began to 

 practice all the arts of sorcery, in which he was an adept. He caused 

 it to rain stones from heaven, he raised tempestuous hurricanes 

 that bore down every thing before them, houses, temples, palaces ; 

 and, by these means, he threw all Dwaraka into confusion. Pre- 

 demne, in Creeshna's absence, was governor of the city, and exerted 

 his utmost endeavours to soothe and tranquillize the inhabitants, 

 telling them, that all their troubles would certainly be assuaged by 

 the blessing of Him who had taken on himself a mundane exis- 

 tence, for the purpose of lightening the burthens of the earth. 

 Predemne then mounted his chariot, and after him came Satek, and 

 Chardeshe, and Behane, and others, followed by a very great 

 crowd of warriors. Sal, then, by his magical power, rendered the 

 air so completely dark, that a man could not see his own hand. 

 Predemne, on this, discharged a fire-dart, which instantly dissipated 

 the obscurity. Sal and Predemne then recognized each other ; and 

 Predemne, on seeing him, shot an arrow, which felled his standard- 

 bearer to the ground, while the driver met the same fate from ano- 



