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

158 KINGS OF KASHMÍRA.
liberal Merakhushähmada who had obtained the king's
friendship by working for him. The king received some
bad news every day and saw his subjects harassed by the
mutual enmity among his sons, and he became sunk in
anxiety. He thought of his relatives and servants and
friends who had passed away, and believed himself as it
were like an elephant that had strayed from the herd.
In the meantime prince Hájyakhāna suffered from a
disease brought on by excessive drinking. He was
heroic and noble ; and as the king was excessively fond
of him, his illness nearly dried up in the king's heart all
the pleasures that he derived from his kingdom, even as a
plant is dried up in a garden by fire. He caused his son
to be brought before him, and saw him ill and much
reduced, and out of affection thus addressed him in the
presence of his ministers :—"O son ! You, who are
addicted to an evil habit, have reaped the fruit of drink-
ing. Even like the moon, you have got the disease
which wastes you. Have you no friendly servant who
looks to your interest as your protector, who gives good
advice to you who are addicted to the sin of drinking ?
What wonderful enjoyments are there within your reach
even to this day ? But why should you then, like an in-
sect, be attached to one pleasure only when life affords to
you others which are not accessible to other men ? If you
think that there is nothing better than wine, then you are
a very vicious man indeed, and it will be of no use telling
you of the ancient heretic kings. Mighty kings, who were