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

118 KINGS OF KASHMÍRA.
ing rice after a long interval, and by edible leaves. The
high price of ghee, salt, and oil was reduced on account
of the dearness of rice, as the greatness of good men is
detracted by the pride of the low. Those citizens who
had been garrulous before about many things now be-
gan to talk a great deal about rice only. The Bandhujīva
flower, which is like the life of a friend, was neglected
even like the ākanda, for without rice the people were
blind with hunger, and the sight of flower inflicted pain.
Formerly one khāra of paddy could be had for 300
dinnāras, but owing to the famine, the same khāra of
paddy could not then be obtained even for 1500. What
more need be said ? In some parts of the kingdom the
poor people were denied even the gruel of rice. Before
this the people had thought little of the lucious brīhi
and the shāli rice, and it was for this, I think, that they
now suffered from this calamity.
Being of a kind disposition, the king became anxious
for his people, and after he had fed his distressed sub-
jects for a few months, like his children, with his own
rice, a plentiful crop grew, as if on account of the
greatness of his heart. A truthful king has not to
grieve for a long time. It was the sea, I think, [by
not supplying the clouds with water,] that troubled
the earth with the calamity of the famine, inorder
that the king's humanity might be displayed. Thieves
delight at the time of anarchy, unchaste women in the
hours of darkness, and those who sell grain delight in