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

KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 217
own palace. The king's mother was glad to see her son
back again from battle, as if he was born again. The
king was afraid of relations of Avatārasīha and others,
and within a few days, sent them to prison in his anger.
That wicked Mallikaṭāja, born in the country of the Five
Caverns, secured royal favour by flattery and became
a source of misery to men. The whole country was
deceived into bribing him, and he robbed the country
in order to amass a fortune. Abhimanyu the Pratīhāra
obtained the lordship of Devasara ; he was of an inde-
pendent character among the ministers and was proud
of his strength. This covetous man caused trouble
in every house and field with a view to plunder,
and became the object of the people’s curse. He
instilled fear into the king's mind for 'his father's
brother who was imprisoned near the palace, suggesting
that some one might bring him out of the prison and
set up a civil war. Incited by these words, the king,
whose intellect was yet immature, became angry with
Bahrāmakhāna, and ordered his eyes to be put out.
Bahrāma's eyes were accordingly covered with cotton,
and this unworthy descendant of Jainarāja caused a hot
iron rod to be applied on them for their destruction.
The sin of him who destroyed the eyes, and the pain of
him whose eyes were destroyed, cannot be described
in our words. Some said it was an unwise act, some
said it was the work of God, others remarked that it
was the fruit of acts done in a previous birth, while
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