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

28 KINGS OF KASHMÍRA.

water, so was the king overcome by Shahamera. And
as if overpowered by loss of authority everywhere out
side his palace, the king relinquished his life along
with his fame. On the Shivarātri night, on the thirteenth
lunar day, in the year 14, that forbearing king left the
world polluted with the touch of Shahmera.
Then ShrīKoṭā, out of fear of Shahmera, kept the
death of the king a secret for four days, suppressing her
own feelings. She discarded her eldest son lest Shahamera
should rule the kingdom through him, and she discar-
ded the other son also because he was only a boy.
Grieved for her sons, bewildered by the infirmity of
old age, and annoyed at being kept shut up, the queen
ShrīKoṭā, supported by the Lavanyas, comforted
[ruled] the country as if it was her co-widow. All the
ministers,—Shahamera and others,—remembered the
benefits they had previously received, and bowed to her
as to the cresent of the moon. As the summer rain
allays dust and heat, and nourishes plants, even so she
brought back prosperity to the subjects.
The queen feared that Shahmera would destroy her
prosperity, and with a view to check his rise she bes-
towed honors on Bhaṭṭa Bhikshaṇa. It was through
his intelligence that the queen managed to perform her
duties, as one crosses by a boat the dreadful ocean
which is difficult to traverse. Shahmera could not
in his heart tolerate the ascendency of Bhikshaṇa who
was helped by Koṭā, for the proud can scarcely bear