द्वितीय राजतरङ्गिणी (जोनराज - कल्हणोत्तर मध्यकालीन कश्मीर का प्रामाणिक इतिहास)

KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 81

they were not sold. They were powerful and for a
long time kept possession of the ten plots, but inorder
to secure them legally they forged entries in the docu-
ment. Before the time of this king who was a careful
judge, they had caused the words 'ten pieces of level
land have been sold' to be written by Nonarāja's son.
I was in the court, and was grieved that the land was
thus forcibly taken possession of. Then by the king's
orders the litigants brought the document, and the judi-
cious king read it and threw it in water. [Half of a
couplet appears to be wanting here.] The newly written
letters were effaced and the old ones remained showing
that one piece of level land had been sold. The king
then caused it to be read by his courtiers. Thus the
king's fame spread on all sides. I obtained some land,*
the forgerer received severe punishment, the subjects
were happy, and the wicked remained in fear.
The moon, when full, is sometimes afraid of Rāhu ;
the cloud which gives rain sometimes strikes us with
terror and hurls thunderbolts on trees ; and even so
the Creator, who creates good men for the delight of
the world, sometimes causes apprehension by sending
diseases. At one time a poisonous boil gave much
pain to the king in his forearm, and to his sub-
jects in their hearts. As flowers are not obtainable
in the month of Māgha on account of the mischief

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* The wanting portion would perhaps have showed the share
the author had in winning the suit by which he obtained land.