In the Ramayana is an account of the wonderful cow whose calf this king stole. When commanded by her owner, on the occasion of the visit of a king to the hermitage, to supply the varied wants of the great multitude which accompanied him--

"'The cow from whom all plenty flows,
Obedient to her saintly lord,
Viands to suit each taste outpoured.
Honey she gave, and roasted grain,
Mead sweet with flowers, and sugar-cane.
Each beverage of flavour rare,
And food of every sort, were there:
Hills of hot rice, and sweetened cakes,
And curdled milk, and soup in lakes.
Vast beakers flowing to the brim
With sugared drink prepared for him;
And dainty sweetmeats, deftly made,
Before the hermit's guests were laid.'

"When Rama returned, his father told him what had happened; and seeing the cow in distress, he was filled with wrath. Taking up his splendid bow, he assailed Karttavirya, and overthrew him in battle. With sharp arrows Rama cut off his thousand arms, and he perished. The sons of Karttavirya, to avenge their father's death,

attacked the hermitage of Jamadagni when Rama was absent, and slew the pious and unresisting sage, who called repeatedly, but fruitlessly, upon his valiant son. Rama deeply lamented his father's death, performed the last obsequies, and lighted the funeral pile. He then made a vow that he would extirpate the whole Kshattriya race. In fulfilment of which, with remorseless and fatal rage, he destroyed the sons of Karttavirya; and, after them, whatever Kshattriyas he encountered. Thrice seven times [**] did he clear the earth of the Kshattriya caste. After he had cleared the world of Kshattriyas, their widows came to the Brahmans, praying for offspring. The religious Brahmans, free from any impulse of lust, cohabited with these women, who, in consequence, brought forth valiant Kshattriya boys and girls."

In another passage in the Mahabharata it is taught that it was in consequence of the curse of a sage named Apava, that Rama was able to kill Karttavirya. The king had permitted Agni to devour the hermitage of this Rishi, who, in revenge, declared that his thousand arms should be cut off by Parasurama.

In the Ramayana is an interesting legend in which Parasurama, himself an incarnation of Vishnu, is described as meeting with Rama Chandra, the next avatara of the same deity, and in which the superiority of Rama Chandra is declared. [*+] "As King Dasaratha was returning to his capital with Rama (Chandra), he was alarmed by the ill-omened sounds uttered by certain birds. The