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

KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 269
fits from the Saidas, they did not value their acquain-
tance, even as the kokilas do not value the acquaintance
of crows. Hawks and the servants of the Saidas disturbed
the colony of birds on the Satī lake where they had lived
in ease and security. These singers whose beautiful voices
used to be heard in loud songs now remained dumb
before the king, as if in sorrow, even like black-bees in
the month of Māgha. The Saidas took the young king
with them, with the intention of killing birds, and went
by boat to the banks of the Vitastā, and there they let
loose their birds (hawks). They carried their food with
them ; and were blind in their pride, and they did not
behave with due courtesy towards the people of Kash-
mīra. They massacred the birds in such a manner as
if they would never come again to kill birds.
Once upon a time, the Saidas assembled their own
people and held a council ; and when the Kashmīrians
and the Madras heard that the Saidas had held a
council among themselves in the city, they became
alarmed. Parashurāma and others who had been
appointed by the Kashmīrians and the Madras met the
five active Saidas on that day and thought of hostilities.
The Saidas worked privately, and their purpose was hid as
if by the darkness of their acts, and was not known to any.
Now Merā, Evil Fortune personified, the beloved
daughter of Mera Hassana, came on one occasion to
her father and privately asked him to follow her without
delay as there was some work of the king to be