00 MYSTIC EXPERIENCES

forest that seemed extensive as space itself. Far as the eye
could reach^ the long lines of naked sword-blades, gleaming'
battle-axes, lances and arrow-points, quivered and rattled with
the tense excitement of the warriors. A moment each proudly
awaited the first stroke from the other, and then the two
armies rolled into one with the roar of meeting" oceans.

Lila saw it was her hero-husband righteously resisting"
the invasion of a hostile king. They only are the heroes—
Shuras—-who fight truly and honourably in a Just cause, or in
obedience to their righteous king and master ; and such only
go to heaven ; not they who fight falsely, without good cause,
however, brave(1).

And all day long the battle raged and roared ; and soon
the ground was spread with mounds of dead, rising from thick .
unwholesome pools of blood and crushed and mangled flesh of
men and beasts. The carcasses of elephants arose like islands
from the surface of that sea of death ; pieces of shattered cars
drifted about like spars of storm-wrecked boats. And shrieks
of agony rang everywhere, and cries for father, mother,
brother, friend ; and frantic calls by leaders to their hosts to
save the wounded and not trample down their own.

But with the sinking sun the slaughter slackened. The
greater part lay dead or wounded. The rest were tired and
worn. Emissaries went to and fro. Both sides agreed to
cease hostilities for the night. White flags were floated out.
Shortly the evening moon shone on a sickening scene of death
and desolation, where the morning sun had lighted up a
gorgeous show of bravery. Women wandered over the field

(1) It must be remembered that "righteous war" was the highest
duty of the kshattriya, the warrior, and death in such a war» as the
gate of Svarga (heaven), might therefore well figure in a king's heaven.
Etymologically, ^shattriya* is 'he who protects the weak from being
harmed and hurt by the strong', kshatat trayate.