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

KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 207
by his grandfather. Seated on the throne, clad in elegant
robes and ornaments, he gladdened the earth and
looked beautiful, even like the rising moon on the
eastern hill. The chief malla, the minister Ahmada him-
self, marked his forehead with the mark of sovereignty;
and adorned the new king with flowers of gold.
Royal Fortune, as if recognizing him as the sole
remnant of his dynasty and the ornament of the family,
protected him by placing him on the silver throne, as
in a casket, and covering him with the royal umbrella.
Looking at the moon-like face of the new king, the face
of the city, which was like the lotus, expanded ! The
smoke of homa ceremony, performed at the king's coro-
nation, rose high in the air, as if the earth sent her
breath upwards in gladness and looked bright. In the
echoes of the music which played, the surrounding space
seemed to express its gladness, and the air from all
directions poured forth blessings. The long lines of
blood-red banners which were displayed, seemed like
crests of the fire of the new king's prowess. In the
decorations of lovely white flowers, Royal Fortune seem-
ed to smile after a long period at the ascendency of the
young king. All the servants of the new king wore
clothes of bright silk which looked graceful like waves,
and displayed their changeful prosperity. Large ex-
penses were incurred on account of silk in those parts
of the kingdom where the people used to wear cotton
clothes. Those who used to rob the people disappeared