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

422 KINGS OF KASHMÍRA.
saw their condition and gave them gifts of gold and
silver, and he was like a second Karṇa. The cloud
rains nectar, but that benefit is diminished by its thun-
ders ; but in the heart of king Rāmadāsa, who always
gave gifts, there was no pride. Where art thou now O
Māndhātā ? Inferior to him in liberality. Stop thy ear
O Karṇa ! that thou mayest not hear Rāmadāsa’s praise.
Feelest thou no shame O Jīmūtabāhana ? In what art
thou strong ? Truly O Vikramāditya ! I know of no
lasting benefit that has been attained by thy fame.
Rāmadāsa always distributes his gifts wisely and skilfully.
Rāmadāsa, the servant of Akavara, gave one hundred
pieces of silver, and also pieces of gold to every house
of a Brāhmaṇa. He distributed fifty thousand pieces
of silver among the poor Brāhmaṇas.*
O Rāmadāsa the kalpa tree of the world ! I think
there exists as much difference between thy gifts and
the gifts of others, as there exists between a gift and no
gift. Nirmmala and all other Brāhmaṇas versed in the
vedas, and the paṇḍitas blessed him and returned to their
homes. On another day, Prahlāda, Nirmmala, and all
of them were honored by the speech of this king, which
was as sweet as nectar. Even the illustrious Jyallāladīna
gladdened the Brāhmaṇas who were recommended to
him by Rāmadāsa, even as the moon gladdens the cha-
karas. The emperor bestowed villages on the Brāh-

• The portion translated in this para is in prose and within
  square brackets in the text.