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

186 KINGS OF KASHMÍRA.
sorrow in secret. Thieves, immoral men, and the ene-
mies and oppressive servants of the king were like
jackals in the kingdom, they wandered about during
day time in fear.
After the death of king Shri Jaina the king's officers
again harassed the people, even like serpents deprived
of their head jewel. Even the full moon, which illumines
all sides and becomes worthy of the enjoyment of the
gods, has its stain, and the king likewise had one stain
in his character. The courtiers of the king combined
among themselves, and urged by the fear that the king
would kill all of them when he would hear of their faults,
they plotted to bring in a stranger. A barber by the
name of Riktetara* became the favourite of the king.;
he advised wicked deeds, was full of vices, and accepted
unfair bribes. Men addicted to enjoyments cannot
leave off evil habits, and thus the present sovereign,
though daily reproached by the late king, could not
cast off this barber who had become his favourite. This
wily barber, who had accumulated riches through the
toil of the people and who was skilled in devices for ac-
complishing his purpose, now became widely known by
his gifts of money. The cunning man kept concealed by
the sweetness of his tongue the hardness of his heart
which led him to oppress the people. Having thus attained
to power he wickedly harassed the subjects who had been

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• This man is subsequently called Pūrna.