Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists

""Myths of the Hindus & BuddhistsAnd now the mighty snake Ashwasena, beholding thepoint that the contest had reached, and desiring to gratifyhis own hatred of Arjuna, entered into the quiver ofKama. And he, eager at any cost to prevail over hisenemy, and unaware that Ashwasena had entered into theshaft, set his heart upon that one particular arrow that hehad kept in his quiver for the fatal blow.Then said his charioteer :This arrow, O Kama, will notsucceed. Find thou another that will strike off hishead!" But the warrior answered haughtily:"Kamanever changes his arrow. Seek not to stain a soldier shonour !"Having said these words, he drew his bow and sped thatarrow which he had worshipped to this end for many along year.And it made a straight line across thefirmament as itsped toward Arjuna through the air.But Krishna, understanding the nature of the arrow,pressed down his foot so that Arjuna s car sank a cubit sdepth into the earth. The horses also instantly kneltdown, and that arrow carried away the diadem of Arjuna,but injured not his person.Then the arrow returned to the hand of Kama and saidin a low voice :foe!""Speed me once more, and IBut Kama answered: "Notby the strengthwill slay thyof anotherdoes Kama conquer. Never shall I use the same arrowtwice !Then, the hour of his death having come, the earth itselfbegan to swallow the wheel of Kama s car, and the son ofthe charioteer, reeling with pain and weariness, bethoughthim of another divine weapon. But Arjuna, seeing thisspeed forth, cut it off with another; and when Kama beganto aim at his bowstring, not knowing that he had a206