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

82 KINGS OF KASHMÍRA.
caused by snow, even so physicians who knew about poi-
sons could not, at that time, be found in the country,
owing to the oppression of the mlechchhas. The ser-
vants of the king at last found out Shivabhaṭṭa who knew
the antidotes of poisons, and who performed religious sa-
*crifices ; even as travellers discover a well in a desert.
He was well versed in the art of healing, but out of
fear of the mlechchhas he, for a long time, delayed
to come. When he arrived, the king gave him en-
couragement, and he completely cured the king of the
poisonous boil, even as an elephant uproots a poison-
ous tree. When that boil was healed, the fame of the
physician increased with the comfort of the king, and
the gladness of the people. The king was pleased and
gave him much wealth, but Shivabhaṭṭa did not look
at wealth, even as a man who has conquered his pas-
sions does not look at beautiful women. [Here a part
of a line is wanting, the probable meaning is that] He
spent the gold and silver in payment of fines by which
the twice-born preserved the purity of their caste.
The king caused rest-houses for travellers to be
built at the out skirts of villages, and they were sup-
ported by the villages ; and he caused shelters to be
built within forests. The buildings which were raised
for the deceased females of the twice-born stood at every
place, as if in them the females of that caste laughed at
Sāhabhaṭṭa. Thus the king, with unabated kindness,
saved the world oppressed by the mlechchhas, even