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

154 KINGS OF KASHMÍRA.
the city during day time, as if they foresaw a calamity,
and howled in grief. An eclipse of the moon and of
the sun took place within a fortnight, as if meant to upset
the king and thereby to destroy the kingdom in which
there had hitherto been no division. The passage of the
sun from one sign of the zodiac to another occurred on in-
auspicious days, and men were alarmed, and apprehended
some agricultural disaster. The hooting of owl was heard
under “the umbrella”,* as if the metropolis of the kingdom
bemoaned and enquired if its builder was about to perish.
On the second day of the moon that luminary was seen
with its face upwards in the sky, as if it prognosticated the
advent of another king.
In the meantime there happened a terrible drought
in another country such as brings on a famine; and
the beggars of that country came, like embodied sprites,
into Kashmíra. The king saw them and made en-
quiries of them, whereupon they informed him thus:—
“In many countries, and in all directions, the time
of distress has come, like the all destroying Yama,
on account of drought. Precious stones have lost their
value on account of this famine, even as good men,
who could be of service to all, lose their usefulness
through the influence of evil men. Oppressed by
hunger, the dogs have devoured the dead in their
tenantless houses, and are now preying on one an-

• The one that was built over the palace as previously stated.