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

KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 145
learning, produced men, who through the favour of
the king, became known for their erudition. Learning,
like the kalpa plant, shot into many branches, thrived
by means of scholarships, and bore heavenly fruits.
There was not a branch of learning or arts or literature
or fine arts which did not become celebrated in the
world during the reign of king Shri Jaina. Feudatory
kings saw that the king befriended merit and respected
learning, and they diligently applied themselves to it.
The heat of the earth consumes much of the grass
and shrubs in the summer season, but the pleasant
rainy season revives them. Thus in times past, king
Shekandhara had, through the influence of the Yavanas,
burnt all books of learning, even as fire burns grass.
At that time all learned men had fled precipitately
to distant countries, owing to the oppression of the
Mausulas, taking their books with them. What more
need be said ? There were the Brāhmaṇas in the
country, but all their excellent books were known only
in name, as lotuses are at the advent of winter. But
the king who now graces the land and is dear to
the learned, restored the books, even as the spring
revives the black bees. He caused the Purāṇas, books
on logic, the Mīmāṁsā, and other books to be brought
from distant lands, and distributed them to the learned.
The king heard me recite the Vāshishṭa Brahmadarshaṇa
composed by Vālmīki which is known as the way to
salvation ; and when he heard the annotations pervaded
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