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

KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 231
versed in Sanskṛita verses, but was fond of vernacular
songs, and he repeated the following shloka in praise
of music, setting it to music. "The power of music
renovates withered trees, subdues the lower animals, and
makes the gods descend to woods and speak unseen ;
in sorrow and in pleasure, it gives joy to the ignorant and
the learned, to the young, and the old alike ; may
such music abide with me!" With a sweet voice he sang
many high tuned songs of unparallel music and in many
tunes, and surprised us. Then the great king ordered
me, who am the head of a section of the music depart-
ment, to introduce the singers to his presence. I
brought in Vahävadena and others, who were superior
to all, and the leaders among singers, and I named each
of them and placed them before the king. Shikshākāra
and four other singers seemed to spread the influence
of the god of love under the pretence of singing five
tunes. Their charming voice issued from their faultless
throat and pleased all men ; they had studied the art of
singing and were well skilled in instruments, and they
laboured to display their skill. The singers from
Karṇāṭa sat gracefully before the king as if they repre-
sented the six tunes ; viz :-Kedāra, Gauḍa, Gāndhāra,
Desha, Bhaṅgāla, and Mālava. The female dancers of
the king shone beauteously and bright like the lamps
at night, they were inflamed by the god of love and were
young and full of emotion, even as the lamps were fed
by wax, and were new and supplied with wick. The