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

KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 349
hotly with the enemy in the field, he joined the company
of the women of heaven, (died). There exists in this
world only one part of virtue, out of four, in the Kali
yuga, but the son of the Mārgesha had made that virtue
four legged in the shape of the great towers of the masoda.
Surely Kārkoṭanāga had devoured the Mārgapati in anger
so that the Nāga might go from and return to Karkoṭa
hill every year without any obstruction. The plans of
Abdāla Malleka, Luhara, and other sons of the Mārgapati
were discovered by the king, and they fled to different
countries. As by chance the hand comes across a hole
in a cloth, and that which was torn but half a cubit before
is enlarged, even so misfortunes come upon sinful people.
An epidemic which was as it were the wife of Death
broke out on all sides, and it caused sickness, tumults,
and destruction of men. The number of the dead could
not be counted either in villages or in the capital. Men
could hardly get a piece of torn cloth at their last moment.
Friends did not weep for friends, what of sorrowing
for others ? Anxious for themselves, some managed to
save their lives, for as yet they were destined to live.
Now when the epidemic disappeared from the country,
through the influence of fate, men heard the news of
Mahmadashāha's arrival into Kashmīra. Mahmadashāha
set out from Noushāhāra accompanied by Luhara,
and obtained a large force from Eskandara, lord
of Gaja. He wished to take possession of Kash-
mīra, and he came bringing with him the sons of the
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