Then, O foremost of kings, Ashvatthaman, beholding that upraised mace resemble the blazing bolt of heaven, leapt off three steps from the terrace of his car.
स गदामुद्यतां दृष्ट्वा ज्वलन्तीमशनीमिव। अपाक्रामद् रथोपस्थाद् विक्रमांस्त्रीन् नरर्षभः॥