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

KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 155
other ; and good Brāhmaṇas, O ! King ! who used
to perform penances for taking food touched or eaten
by others, are now eating every thing owing to
hunger. Brāhmaṇa women, who could judge as to
what food is acceptable and what is not, have in
some places killed themselves and others by means of
poisoned rice. Some people have left their homes and
some have died on account of the drought, so that a
tenantless town or village can be seen at every step.
Merjābhosaida the Suratrāṇa, king of Khurāsāna, your
friend, marched out of his country for want of food,
surrounded by one koti of soldiers, and forcibly entered
the country of his enemy ; but the king of Irāka captured
him in the midst of a battle and killed him. At the
time of his capture, and even when bound, he displayed
valor like Duryyodhana, and innumerable Turuṣhkas
died. The time of distress has come in other countries,
and owing to the destruction of the weak in mutual
conflict among kings, there are dangers O ! King !
at every step. We have heard O ! King ! of thy country
happy in wealth, in its store of food and other things, and
we have come sorely oppressed with hunger, now save
us." When the king heard this pitiable news, he felt
as if the calamity had befallen his own subjects, and
moved by kindness, he gave them many things.
In the meantime, the great Svayyapura, built by her-
mits, spontaneously took fire, and became like a desert-
ed forest. The great records of Kramarājya that were