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68 The valiant god his car ascends, Swept by his fervid bounding speeds, Athwart the sky the hero speeds, The Marut-hosts his escort form, Impetuous spirits of the storm. On flashing lightning-cars they ride. And gleam in warlike pomp and pride . . . Like lions' roar their voice of doom; The hills, the earth itself, they shake; All creatures at their coming quake. While earth quaked and all creatures ran for cover, only Vritra, the foe, calmly watched their approach: Perched on a steep aerial height Shone Vritra's stately fortress bright. Upon the wall, in martial mood, The bold gigantic demon stood. Confiding in his magic arts. And armed with store of fiery darts. "Without alarm, defying the might of Indra's arm," unafraid of "the terrors of the deadly flight" rushing toward him, Vritra stood in wait. And then was seen a dreadful sight. When god and demon met in fight. His sharpened missiles Vritra shot, His thunderbolts and lightnings hot he hurled as thick as rain. The god his fiercest rage defied; His blunted weapons glanced aside, at Indra launched in vain. The lightnings then began to flash. The direful thunderbolts to crash, THE WARS OF GODS AND MEN With iron force their teeth consume. When Vritra spent all his fiery missiles, Indra was able to take over the offensive; by Indra proudly hurled.