After the verbs hve 'to call', when meaning 'to challenge' and preceded by aṅ , the ātmanepada is used, even, when the fruit of the action does not accrue to the agent.,
As मल्लो मल्लामाह्वयते 'an athlete challenges another athlete (in order to conquer him)'; छात्रश्छात्रमाह्वयते 'one student emulates with another student.'
This sutra is also for the purpose of showing that the root hve takes the Atmanepada terminations even when the direct fruit of the action does not accrue to the agent.
The word spardha means to emulate, to vie, to desire, to conquer another. When the verb hve has not the above signification, it takes the terminations of the parasmaipada. As गामाह्वयति गोपालः 'the cowherd calls the cows.',