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

KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 171
distrustful even of a shadow. He heard that the minis-
ters intended to rise against him, but he took no care
of his own life. For a few days he remained like one
whose intellect was gone, and, when questioned by his
friends, he made reply to none. On one occasion when
the ministers asked him some questions about the
affairs of the state, he uttered some words without mean-
ing, and as if oppressed with illness he laid himself
exhausted on the bed. The physicians did not know
the cause nor the symptoms of his illness, but I think
he took the vow of fasting in order to get himself rid
of his affliction. High as lofty trees, yielding food with
extended arms, of high renown, and beloved of Brāhmaṇas
as the trees are beloved of birds, the good kings are struck
down by evil fate as by a gale. In the meantime the
three sons disorganised all the seven constituents of the
kingdom, as terrible diseases destroy the humours of the
body. The Rajputs were alarmed, and came every day,
with many soldiers, and found the king in his miserable
plight and almost dumb. The king was afraid of his sons,
but in order to give an audience to all, he was placed in
his wretched condition before the gate of the palace, with
his elephants and horses. Men belonging to the palace
and those outside thronged to see the king ; they heard
the sound of religious festivities, and beheld the king
with gladness, as one beholds the moon on the second
day after the new moon. Bahrā nakhāna became alarmed
when he heard of this, and came near to the place, but