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

KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 153
bóws.* The elephants which were at Rajjupura remained
pensive as if apprehensive of the mischief that would befall
their beloved king.† Then by a rope fixed to the ground
the fearless man ascended like a bird into the air. This
master of his art did not fall, but moved with wonderful
steps on the rope, and the mind of men was pleased, even
as by a poem. Like a planet he moved on high and
successfully walked over the rope to the wonder of the
people.
Fate had for a long time showered blessings on
the people ; he now inflicted an insupportable cala-
mity on the country ; even as clouds rain for the
benefit of agriculture and then rob its fruits by hail.
At a time when there was no cause left to disturb the
king, the people suddenly saw signs of a severe
calamity to the country which had hitherto been happy
under good government. A comet was seen at night
in the north ; it is the cause of the destruction of men,
even as excessive rain is of embankments. Its long
tail was of resplendent beauty, and surely Yama hurled
down his axes in the form of the comet for the destruc-
tion of kings. For a period of two months the comet
was visible in the clear sky, and the kind heart of the
king remained anxious through fear of mischief that
might happen. The dogs were always heard to bark in

• A bow is equal to two yards.
  † This line appears to be a misprint in the text here, taken pro-
  bably from the part translated in the next paragraph.