“You seem to have Death at your beck and call and summon him again and again for my sake!” Hearing Lakƒma˜a’s harsh words ParaÜurŒma closed his hand upon his terrible axe. “After this let no one blame me; this sharp-tongued boy deserves his death. I have spared him long on account of his being a child; he is now surely going to die.” Said ViÜvŒmitra, “Pardon his offence; holy men take no notice of the merits and demerits of a child.” “Sharp-edged is my axe, while I am pitiless and furious; and here stands before me an offender and an enemy of my Guru. Even though he gives a retort, I spare his life solely out of regard for you, O ViÜvŒmitra. Or else, hacking him to pieces with this cruel axe, I would have easily repaid the debt I have owed to my Guru.” (1—4)