1838.] Report m the Mackenzie Manuscripts, 



355 



all his warriors, he assembled them, and putting himself at their head 

 lie entered his war chariot, and went forth to battle. The contest 

 lasted for twenty-one days j when Karta-viriya! 8 people were all 

 «lain. Parasu Rama now took counsel with Nareda, as to the ex- 

 pediency of fighting with Karta-viriya, when Nareda observed that 

 the adversary was the Chncra, and that specially for the purpose of 

 Mlling the incarnation of that weapon he {Parasu Rama) had been 

 born. Encouraged by this information Parasu Rama came to the 

 personal contest. It continued for seven days ; and, at the close, 

 when Karta viriya was injured and disabled by the arrows which 

 had been poured in upon him, Parasu Rama came to close quarters, 

 and with his axe chopped off his five-hundred arms. Karta-viriya 

 now made the last desperate attempt to fall upon, and thereby crush, 

 his assailant ; but in the attempt Parasu Rama forcibly struck the 

 monarch's head with his hand, and deprived him of life. The whole 

 of the celestials witnessing this result, greatly lauded Parasu Rama» 

 The queen and the other families of the palace, who had lost their 

 liusbands in the battle, were desolated with grief ; hut Parasu Rama 

 'dispatched Nareda to them, with the consoling assurance that all 

 things had happened by superior causation (or by destiny). The 

 Whole of the said females burned themselves on the funeral pile, with 

 the bodies of their slain husbands, and thereby obtained beatification. 



P arasM ^a»;a returned to his mother, and announced, that the pre- 

 existing cause of enmity, had been to the fullest degree avenged ; and 

 tlpon receiving her commands, he, in obedience thereto, returned and 

 assumed the government of Jamhunapuri ; releasing from prison all 

 the persons whom the late king had confined therein. While he was 

 Jwosperously ruling there, the whole of the Brahmans assembled, and 

 represented to him, that on account of the fault which had a reference 

 to his mother, he liad previously, in promise, made over the whole of 

 tlie land in free gift to them (the Brahmms% and could not equitably 

 ■assume the reins of government himself. Not to forfeit his veracity, 

 he determined to act up to his promise ; and, relinquishing the whole 

 land to them, retired, and built himself a hermitage of branches and 

 Teeds. The ^raA»wo?2* however still pestered him ; asking him if it 

 ivas right to sell jewels, and other valuables, when he had already 

 made over every thing to them. Incensed beyond endurance he 

 went away, and besought a territory from the sea ^ which he received^ 

 in accordance with his request, and there he resided. While living 

 Inhere, /?a»wtt CAawc^ra together with his consort, came that way, 

 Par^m Rama scolded him Sox laking th« same name, isaying " I am 



