Thereupon the sage metamorphosed that prince of elephants into a lion. As the wild lion was an animal of the same species with him, the Rishi's lion no longer feared him. On the other hand, seeing a stronger beast of his own species before him, the wild lion became afraid.
स ततः सिंहतां नीतो नागेन्द्रो मुनिना तदा। वन्यं नागणयत् सिंहं तुल्यजातिसमन्वयात्॥ दृष्ट्वा च सोऽभवत् सिंहो वन्यो भयसमन्वितः। स चाश्रमेऽवसत् सिंहस्तस्मिन्नेव महावने।॥