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

KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 257
peated the following shloka :—"They perish who have
no leader, they too perish whose leader is an infant,
and they also perish whose leader is a woman, and
those who have many leaders perish likewise." The
king remained in bed day and night and mourned
for the Mārgapati and others for whom he was
grieved, but was unable to bring them back. The
Mārgesha had taken shelter in Lohara, he was oppressed
with anxiety for his master, and he took this opportunity
to send the following words of advice, by means of a
letter. "O king ! O jewel among men ! Your trea-
sury, which used to gratify the hopes of all, has been
removed by the Saidas, and they have brought in abject
poverty. Like a drop of quicksilver, the Saidas are by
nature heavy, restless, and adhere to one another ; they
do not wish for the company of others. You are, O
king ! like the green sandal tree the bestower of all
felicity, but you are surrounded by a hissing she-serpent.
What sensible man will not leave the kingdom, though
it be like a jewel, if there abide in it serpents of deadly
poison preventing the approach of others ? Royal For-
tune is like the flame that burns on the funeral ground,
frightful to the sight, and he who serves her must not
touch the flame, though he sees it burning. Meyā
Hassana's mind is under the influence of evil planets,
and like Rāvaṇa he keeps away from the right path,
though advised by his well wishers to follow it. The
woman named Merā, who accepts bribes as plentifully