द्वितीय राजतरङ्गिणी (जोनराज - कल्हणोत्तर मध्यकालीन कश्मीर का प्रामाणिक इतिहास)
Dvitiya Rajatarangini of Jonaraja (History of Kashmir)
राजानक जोनराज (सम्पादक: रघुनाथ सिंह) द्वारा
KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 157
the palace displayed its umbrella and looked beautiful
like the jewel that hangs in the centre of a necklace.
The multitude of men lived happily here, as creepers do
at the advent of the pleasant season of spring in a new
forest ; and their friends, like so many flowers, stayed
with them for a few days and then retired well pleased.
What new fledged birds are to other birds, so are
kindreds to men ; they live with them for a time, but
when they can depart with ease they go away, to the
regret of their friends.
Meanwhile the king’s beloved queen named Vodhā-
khātonā died. She was to the family of the Saidas what the
moon light is to the sea. It was by union with her that the
king had thought his life happy, and now by her separa-
tion his body became burnt with sorrow and all things
appeared to him as nothing. The moon-like king, the
defender of himself, had placed his sister’s son Kyāma-
dena in the post of Suratrāṇa in the country of Sindhu.
He was graced with every virtue and was loved by the
king as his own son, and was dearer to him than his own
life. The king heard that this chief of Sindhu was killed
in a battle by Evvarāhima. He was to the king a joy
in times of pleasure and a solace in those of affliction,
and by his death the king felt as if his own right hand
had been cut off. On account of the death of Darpāva-
khāna and others, a new body of ministers was formed,
but they, with their boon companions, were ministers
only in name. At this time died also the proud and
14
158 KINGS OF KASHMÍRA.
liberal Merakhushähmada who had obtained the king's
friendship by working for him. The king received some
bad news every day and saw his subjects harassed by the
mutual enmity among his sons, and he became sunk in
anxiety. He thought of his relatives and servants and
friends who had passed away, and believed himself as it
were like an elephant that had strayed from the herd.
In the meantime prince Hájyakhāna suffered from a
disease brought on by excessive drinking. He was
heroic and noble ; and as the king was excessively fond
of him, his illness nearly dried up in the king's heart all
the pleasures that he derived from his kingdom, even as a
plant is dried up in a garden by fire. He caused his son
to be brought before him, and saw him ill and much
reduced, and out of affection thus addressed him in the
presence of his ministers :—"O son ! You, who are
addicted to an evil habit, have reaped the fruit of drink-
ing. Even like the moon, you have got the disease
which wastes you. Have you no friendly servant who
looks to your interest as your protector, who gives good
advice to you who are addicted to the sin of drinking ?
What wonderful enjoyments are there within your reach
even to this day ? But why should you then, like an in-
sect, be attached to one pleasure only when life affords to
you others which are not accessible to other men ? If you
think that there is nothing better than wine, then you are
a very vicious man indeed, and it will be of no use telling
you of the ancient heretic kings. Mighty kings, who were
KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 159
to their powerful enemies even as the wind is to cotton,
are known to have been destroyed by wine. Think of this.
Malleka Jamrathā who took possession of a kingdom knew
of the sin of drinking wine, but he was wise and kept him-
self aloof from it. His son Shāhimasoda began to drink at
sports and pastimes after his father's death and lost every
thing. The great city of the Mallekā, rich with the seven
requisites of royal power,* has now become a thing of the
past, owing to the evil habits of the wicked son, and is
even like a corpse with seven members. Wine is red in
the cup, and by its color I take it to be the heart's blood
of him who drinks it. There is no enemy to the living
like wine which is taken as beneficial ; for when taken
in excess it kills. Men drunk with the maireya wine
will commit deeds which even a madman will not do, for,
even he shrinks from such acts. The sprite in the shape
of wine enters the body of the man who drinks and in a
moment destroys his life while he is weeping or laughing.
O Son! You have come to your present condition by
taking wine which is poison ; now save your life, and
give up this hateful wine from today. You are foolish
and addicted to evil habits, but if you do not give up
wine without delay, you will be deserted by your good
fortune, and your life will be short."
When the prince heard these very commendable
words of his father, he replied that he would drink wine
- King, minister, ally, treasury, kingdom, fort, and army.
160 KINGS OF KASHMÍRA.
no more without the king's orders. The king saw his
son lusterless, weak, emaciated, and devoid of affection,
even like a lamp with a thin wick and without oil, and
he was surrounded by the darkness of despair. The
word of advice is dear to those who are fortunate, but
those whose adversity is nigh repent because they did
not follow the advice in time. The prince began to
drink the poison as soon as he went home, though he was
bound by promise to abstain from it. Advice is useless
to those who become blind by addiction to a vice. The
ministers feared that the king doted on him, and sent
secret letters to bring Ādamakhāna from a distant
country. Alarmed at the approach of the younger
brother, the elder had on one occasion set out to meet
him, but now alarmed at the approach of the elder brother
the younger started from the country. When Ādamakhāna
arrived, the king remained indifferent, determining, as
before, not to be troubled by the quarrels between his
two sons. When the son of Hājyakhāna heard of the
arrival of his father's brother he left Parnotṣa with a
view to fight with his uncle, and reached Rājapurī.
When the uncle arrived in Kashmīra, a terrible battle
took place between him and his nephew for the capture
of the fort of Ārdroṭa. At this time the people witness-
ed the patience of the powerful Hasanakhāna ; for
though anxious for the country, he did not march out
without the orders of his grandfather.
When the eldest brother entered the house of his
KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 161
father he saw Hājyakhāna at the door joined by the
youngest brother, and out of policy made peace with him.
But though they had sworn peace by the god of the
Mausulas, their hearts were not freed from enmity, even
as a silk cloth does not give up its color. When people
saw that they had met in peace before the king, the
country, the nobles, and their own family, they looked
upon them with misgivings, as on four lions met in a
cavern ; and apprehended that ruin arising from their
mutual enmity was at hand.
In the meantime the king considered Vahrāmakhāna
as the best of his sons ; he was the youngest, and the
object of jealousy of the other two brothers. The king
caused him to be brought before him, and when alone,
he thus spoke :—“O Vahrāma ! Your eldest brother has
been made your enemy by your unfriendly deed. He
will remember the harm you have done to him, and
will never be your friend, and it is with vain expecta-
tion that you are serving the other brother. How can
he leave his own son and attend to your interest ? There-
fore do not commit such wicked acts as will bring misery
in future. Leave him without delay, rely on me alone,
and employ your time accordingly. Adhere to the path
of rectitude, and prosperity will then come unto you.
Otherwise O foolish man ! You will be burnt in the
fire of their enmity, even like a thing placed in an iron
pan full of heated oil.” When he heard these words
of his father, he thus replied in his folly :—“It appears
162 KINGS OF KASHMĪRA.
to me O king! that Hājyakhāna loves me exceeding-
ly like a father. I will never forsake him, but serve him.
He will protect me in time of need, and who is at present
more powerful than he?" When the king heard this he
was angry, and he thus spoke to the son who had made up
his mind:—"Fie to thee, that thou hast discarded me
and acknowledged another as thy father! Ah foolish man!
On what hast thou fixed thy mind after having disregard-
ed my words? There is no doubt that thy expectation
will soon be disappointed." He said this and left him.
Then at a time when the king was alone and was not
afraid of any mischief from his son, he thus thought in
his own mind:—"Alas! From me, bright as a house
on fire, have sprung these three sons, and they are
like the ashes of a wood fire; unlike me, useless, and
without lustre;" and he said aloud:—"What should I
do at present?" The wise men who were around him
said in reply that his kingdom was being ruined by his
sons who were aspiring to the throne, and they asked
the king why he did not bestow the kingdom on the one
who was most friendly to him, so that neither he nor
his subjects might be troubled thereafter. Even then,
they said, Mānikyadeva, powerful on account of his
wealth, would hear of the newly appointed king, and
might turn an enemy and soon cause destruction in the
kingdom. The king who knew the characters of his sons
replied:—"The eldest has superior qualifications, but
he is a miser, and has therefore no worthy servants
KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 163
who can consolidate a kingdom. The second is very
liberal, but his expenses are so great that if he had gold
as high as the Pradyumna hill, there would not be one
karṣha of it left.* The youngest is wickedly inclined and
addicted to vice, he would soon ruin the court. I do not
consider any of them to be a good and worthy son. I
will not bestow the kingdom on any ; he who is the strong-
est will get it when I am dead ; this is my purpose. Who
will appreciate my worth unless many perish in the conflict
after I am gone? Men will then appreciate my peaceful
reign. One does not know that the sun has set if dark-
ness does not cover all sides, and men's sight is not
blinded, if robbers do not rob, and good people are not
alarmed. I have obtained the kingdom by my own power,
and have governed it by my intelligence, but by quarrel-
ling among themselves, my wicked sons are destroying
every thing. The royal power with its seven constituents,
and with its mineral wealth, is like a body with seven
limbs and blood ; but it is being wasted by the three
wicked sons, as by three diseases. There does not exist a
good minister today who, like a physician, can restore
it to health by nourishment and treatment. I have long
enjoyed this kingdom, and have tasted the joys of religion,
song, literature, and my life is satiated. I have no other
work to do. I have, owing to my love for my subjects, in-
creased all the new productions of the country threefold
- A karsha is equal to about 280 grains troy.
164 KINGS OF KASHMÍRA.
by means of canal, cultivation, and by other ways. I have
always conversed with learned persons for the preservation
of the six schools of philosophy, have invited such per-
sons from all places, and granted lands for holy purposes.
But as there are gaps between the teeth in the mouth,
so there are defects in the government of the country,
and they are causing me pain every day. I shall there-
fore secure happiness by leaving the kingdom. As a lamp
is hateful to the eye of thieves, so have I become hateful
to many ; but they will soon have to pine for the peace
in the country. Even my sons have not been able to
remain quiet all this time while I am alive ; they will
not die in a hurry ; and I wish to depart from this life
so that all my sons may obtain what they desire.
When they heard this speech of the sorrowful king,
they again said :—" If this be thy intention O king !
why have you then kept a great treasure accumulated ?
Spend them while you are alive and make it pay
your way to the next world." When the king heard
this he replied that :—"That is well said, but listen
to the reason why the treasury is kept full. When
I am dead, any of my sons who may gain the king-
dom will be satisfied with the savings left, and will
not covet for the wealth of my subjects who are dearer
to me than my sons, and I think it my duty to protect
them. I will thus prevent the future oppression of
the subjects with the savings I have made. He enjoys
whose treasury is full, and when it is drained, he oppres-
KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 165
ses the subjects. If the lion's hunger is satisfied, he
plays within the cavern ; but if hungry, he devours the
beasts of the forest. One will call me a foresighted man,
and will not speak ill of me when the subjects will be
free from oppression in future on account of my savings.
When the palace is full of riches, men outside it will
become rich and will be friendly to their king. If the
clouds did not take water from the sea, how could they
shower it on the ground ? It is always by the means of
riches that all the beautiful objects which the king
possesses are obtained ; the fruits, the leaves, and the
flowers that grow on the trees are produced by one
cause ;—the sap within the ground." When those who
had questioned the king heard this reply of the expe-
rienced sovereign, they were silenced. The king's palace
attended by soldiers is like the sea attended by rivers ;
it is full with various objects, and people come there in
quest of those objects. The abundance in all things is
the beauty of the palace as of the sea. When afterwards
the people found that all that the king had said was
verified, they all were afflicted with sorrow, and recalled
his sayings to their mind, and praised his experience.
There was none among the ministers, servants, sons,
friends, relatives, and kindred who could console the
king. He heard of the affairs of his sons who were
enemies to one another, but were now united in hollow
friendship ; and he remained in the central room of the
palace and was afraid to come out. I knew how to
रिंचन, कोटा रानी एवं शाहमीर वंश की स्थापना
166 KINGS OF KASHMÍRA.
explain to the king the way to remove worldly afflictions,
and for nights together he heard from me the Saṃhitā
which is the way to salvation. The king was for a
time consoled by listening to my explanations, the
modulations of my voice, and well turned beautiful
passages. "This appears to me most strange that this
waking illusion of good men like the color of the sky
(vacuum) sinks into oblivion in which there is no memory
of the past. O son of Raghu ! Be it long or be it
pleasant, know this mundane existence to be a long
dream as unsubstantial as a large imaginary kingdom.
If there had been no birth, old age, or death, no fear of
separation from the beloved object, and if all had not
been fleeting, who would not have wished to have been
born in this world ? Men will be freed from objects
from which they withdraw their desire ; a man cannot
know of greater happiness than by withdrawing his desire
from all earthly things." The king learnt shlokas like
those mentioned above by listening to my explanations,
and also many others which indicated his own condition,
and he himself read them. The king heard me read the
"way to salvation," and pondered over the meaning of
many verses, and on one occasion he told the learned
who were about him that some one seemed to whisper
to his ear enquiring why he loved his sons, none of
whom was friendly to him. He thought to himself :—"By
eating meat with our teeth, flesh is served with flesh,
and in such meals, which enriches our blood and gives us
strength, I see no harm. I am mild in my temper, and
I promote the happiness of all, but alas ! my sons are
attempting my destruction as insects destroy woollen
cloth by making holes. None of those with whom I
have spent my former years are left behind ; the afflic-
tion which I feel for their absence will last to the end
of my life. O Muni ! My body is like a cottage which
is worn out, and is covered with hair as with grass ; it
is full of rents, and my mind dislikes it in this evil day.
The districts of my kingdom have been ruined by
my sons, even as the members of the body are bitten
by serpents. The only means left to me is to part with
them, otherwise there is no peace." After he had thus
thought, he composed a book in the Pārasī language
named Shikāyata treating of the vanity of all objects.
The sons of the king's nurse and others of proved
and honourable character left the party of the king and
went over to Hājyakhāna. What else need be said,
those shameless men who were seen with the king du-
ring daytime, were at night found seated at ease before
Khāna. The king remained indifferent to the affairs of
the kingdom, and his servants reviled one another, and
consequently there was a tumult in the country. When
the king was in danger who would not go over to his
sons, as if hoping to obtain thereby one-half of the king-
dom ? Thus thought the king, and he was ignorant of the
true movements of his servants, and became disgusted
with all the members of his family. He who was seen
168 KINGS OF KASHMÍRA.
today to be with the king, was heard of as attending the
Khāna the next morning. Like the Sārasa birds the ser-
vants no where remained steady. The king did not find a
single servant devoted to him, who could give him
consolation, and to whom he could describe the troubles
of his heart. The people came to the palace unopposed
and uttered words such as had never been uttered before,
and spoke of things such as had never been seen or
heard of before. Bahrāmakhāna, by his various acts of
duplicity and by his eagerness to foment quarrel be-
tween his brothers, became like Karṇa, the source of
evil. A stick of wood, if it contains oil, will give light,
but does that light last long ? Does it not spread dark-
ness on all sides with its smoke ?
It was to protect the king that Ādamakhāna had
come, and protection was expected from him, but he was
incapable of protecting himself. He informed the king
one day that Bahrāma had joined his brother Hājya-
khāna, and had sought, by cruel stratagem to destroy
him, and that he (Ādamakhāna) had no other course
left but to seek the king's protection. From Bahrāma
he had no hope of life, and he therefore asked the king
to save him. If the king reigned in the kingdom,
Ādamakhāna feared nothing. But the people eager to
engage in a battle between the brothers were on that
day coming to attack him, and he was overcome with
fear at the news. Thus informed, the king replied that
he had no attachment for his own kingdom or for his
own life, and he called Ādamakhāna a coward, and ad-
vised him to go and save himself, and told him that he
need not have come to him. Thus rebuked by the king,
Ādamakhāna went to Kudmadīnapuri, and kept himself
on the watch, afraid of an attack from his younger
brother. The king had thought that this ambitious
man Ādamakhāna was worthy of his protection, hoping
to find comfort in him and expecting that he would
remove the king's fear of his enemies. But Ādama-
khāna was himself assailed by his enemies, he was like
a horse afraid of the harness, and became a cause of
trouble ; and the king was surprised to hear that his
other two sons thought that he had taken their elder
brother, the object of their hatred, near him out of his
fear of them. Neither the king, nor the king's son, nor
the ministers could sleep owing to mutual fear. The
servants did not serve in accordance with orders but
tried to please their masters by words only, and when
the servants did perform the duties ordered by the king,
he would declare that he did not remember what he
had ordered. He left off the old practice of signing
his orders, and knowing the unsettled state of his mind,
he left the administration to his ministers. "The wicked
men have set the fire of enmity to my house, and have
received pay from both sides, but they do not care to
quench the fire. Let my ministers and my sons perish ;
I helped them to prosper, and they now wish to obtain
my kingdom and will rejoice in my ruin." Thus sighing,
15
170 KINGS OF KASHMÍRA.
and unsettled in mind, sorrowful, and devoted to religious
meditation, the king wished that they might all perish.
The citizens exclaimed that the king was indifferent to
everything, that his sons were engaged in mutual enmity,
and that a great calamity had befallen them. When the
month of fasting for the Yavanas arrived the king left off
taking meat, and reflected thus :—"Those who brought
this wicked son from a distant country, are, alas ! for their
own interest destroying my whole kingdom. On one side
of the city are the two sons with their combined army,
and on the other side is one son alone attended by wicked
men and wicked ministers. A great calamity has come !
The sons will fight, but I am sorry for this city which
should, like a good wife, be guarded. What would be the
use of my living if the city be destroyed while I am
alive ? The servants who were devoted to me, and
strong, are all gone, whom shall I ask for advice and
what shall I do ?" The king's mind was afflicted by
these anxious thoughts and by sorrow caused thereby.
Stricken by such grief, the king, who was solicitous for
the welfare of his kingdom, became like one inanimate.
The city, with its population old and young, was agitated
with alarm on account of many evil news ; it was like
a boisterous sea which the king could not calm.
On the next day when Shivabhaṭṭa brought the king
his meals, the king became angry and said that he had
eaten what he could eat, and told him to take the food
away. In the excess of his anxiety the king became
KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 171
distrustful even of a shadow. He heard that the minis-
ters intended to rise against him, but he took no care
of his own life. For a few days he remained like one
whose intellect was gone, and, when questioned by his
friends, he made reply to none. On one occasion when
the ministers asked him some questions about the
affairs of the state, he uttered some words without mean-
ing, and as if oppressed with illness he laid himself
exhausted on the bed. The physicians did not know
the cause nor the symptoms of his illness, but I think
he took the vow of fasting in order to get himself rid
of his affliction. High as lofty trees, yielding food with
extended arms, of high renown, and beloved of Brāhmaṇas
as the trees are beloved of birds, the good kings are struck
down by evil fate as by a gale. In the meantime the
three sons disorganised all the seven constituents of the
kingdom, as terrible diseases destroy the humours of the
body. The Rajputs were alarmed, and came every day,
with many soldiers, and found the king in his miserable
plight and almost dumb. The king was afraid of his sons,
but in order to give an audience to all, he was placed in
his wretched condition before the gate of the palace, with
his elephants and horses. Men belonging to the palace
and those outside thronged to see the king ; they heard
the sound of religious festivities, and beheld the king
with gladness, as one beholds the moon on the second
day after the new moon. Bahrā nakhāna became alarmed
when he heard of this, and came near to the place, but
172 KINGS OF KASHMÍRA.
he knew by the symptoms that the king was on the point
of death. He then went to a distance and thus said to
his brother :-"Our father will not live ; he fell on the
ground before the gate, and was almost dumb and un-
conscious. Vainly is he being raised up by the cunning
people. Therefore arise, and let us go to the yard of
the king's palace clad in iron mail, and bind the wicked
ministers, and take possession of the horses and of other
things. We will cut down the bridge of boats, and that
will prove the ruin of your elder brother." When
Hājyakhāna heard this, he said :-"This shou'd not be
spoken before me. I do not even in dream wish any
harm to my father and king." He then spent one night
in grief with his father.
Then when Ādamakhāna heard the report that his
father was dead, he moved with his army towards Shrī
Jainanagara with a view to usurp his father's kingdom.
In the way he caused his soldiers to be clad in armour
for his own defence. He then passed one night secretly
in a house at the outskirts of the capital. In the mean-
time, Hassana, the treasurer, blinded by self-interest
and deceiving others, took oath to Shrī Hājyakhāna
and sought his shelter. On the next day the eldest
brother, driven by the ministers, reached Kudmadīna-
purī with his army ; but there his good fortune left him.
Though he was the eldest and possessed of a strong
intellect, though himself a hero endowed with unusual
energy and patience, and attended by followers, he was
KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 173
still unable to perform any signal deed in the time of ac-
tion; for men devoid of virtue cannot achieve success.
Had Ādamakhāna killed a guard that night and captured
the horses, he would have got the kingdom. But the
intelligence of a man is according to his merit.
In the meantime Hājyakhāna sent by the treasurer
and his youngest brother, went into the yard of the
palace, and took possession of his father's horses. When
those servants of the prince, who had been impatient
for fight, heard of the news of the capture of the animals,
they suited their action to the time, clad themselves
in armour and entered the palace. Abhimanyu the
Pratīhāra, and others reviled them, but they were soon
punished by the confusion that followed. Hājyakhāna
with his army remained that day outside the palace,
afraid of a rising, and though he was anxious to see the
king he could not do so.
When Ādamakhāna heard of this news, he became
alarmed. He was in a defenceless condition, and des-
pairing of success, he went with his followers by the
road leading to Vipulāṭa. Surrounded by his own
men, Ādamakhāna marched by the way of Tārabala.
His younger brother pursued him and killed many of
his soldiers. When Abhimanyu the Pratīhāra and others
beheld the superhuman prowess of Ādamakhāna, they
found that he fulfilled what his name implied.* He
*It is difficult to unravel this pun. It seems that the pun lies in
the similarity of the sound of Adamakhana and Admi-khun, the
latter is a Hindi word.
174 KINGS OF KASHMÍRA.
killed many men in his anger, and their corpses were
heaped in the caverns of the mountain. In the mean-
time prince Hassanakhāna, resplendent with many virtues,
soon passed over Parpotsa and came within Kashmira.
The tree growing on barren soil is dried up by the heat
of summer, and becomes sapless, and casts no shadow,
and is forsaken by travellers ; but when nourished by
the copious waters of the rainy season it is decked with
flowers, it shelters men from the heat, and becomes en-
joyable. As a river is equally accessible from both its
banks, even so the kingdom was hitherto accessible to
the two belligerents, but now it became favourable to one
party. Thus by the conduct of the two brothers, vic-
tories and defeats were brought about by fate in a way
which the people had not anticipated. Who does not
wish for a son ? And when a son is born, who does not
feel both happiness and anxiety on his account, and
does not strive by various means to bring up the child ?
But alas ! when the child is grown up, he seeks through
his avarice to obtain his father's wealth, and is even
anxious for the time when the father would die, and
considers him as a hinderance in his way.
At this time the king, surrounded by a few servants,
remained without any anxiety, as if he had not heard
of the reports which had reached him. He gave out
that owing to illness his voice had failed and he had
lost the power of deglutition. His beauty was gone,
and he became like the moon when near its end. It
KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 175
was owing to the misfortune of his subjects and for the
affliction of all, that the king, shorn of his beauty and
suffering from malady, appeared like the sun about to
set at the end of the kalpa. By the quivering of his
lips it was known that he was praying, and he expired
at noon on Friday, on the twelfth day of the moon, in
the month of Jaiṣhṭha. At the time of his death, Fortune
seemed to abandon all his limbs and appeared on his
face, and I saw him in that state. His face methought
was the dwelling place of the goddess of Fortune, and
perspiration issued from it, even like a stream of good
luck. His breath left him, taking his life with it, and
as if afraid of having stolen that jewel. After life had
departed, tears still issued from his eyes, as if his eyes
which were like the sun and the moon melted away and
his affection for his subjects trickled down.
King Shri Jaina reigned happily for fifty-two years,
and went to heaven in the year 46. The corpse was
placed in a litter and was borne on men's shoulders,
and on it were placed the umbrella and the chāmara,
and they looked like the sun and the moon dropped from
the sky in their sorrow. At that time the ministers,
servants, slaves, and citizens offered oblation to the dead
in tears of lamentation. The king had obtained the
kingdom in the month of Jaiṣhṭha in the year 96 ; and
the period of the sun's course towards the north ended
with him. He had counted sixty-nine years, and the
beauty of the flowing black beard was still seen on his
176 KINGS OF KASHMÍRA.
face. After death his body became a corpse and he
became a Shiva. Such was the king that was borne on
a litter and, adorned with umbrella and chāmara, was
brought by the weeping ministers to the burial ground,
where the previous kings looked beautiful as in sleep,
and the earth, as if out of affection for her lords, had
received them in her bosom. All sides resounded with
the loud lamentation of the sorrowing citizens as if
with the noise of sounding brass. Within the city
no other voice was heard than the cry of "O king !
O life of the people ! Where art thou going, leaving thy
subjects behind." The ears of the men were incessantly
filled with these cries, so that they sometimes seemed to
hear the cries in the air. The king was then lifted from
the litter which had been borne on men's shoulders,
and was covered with cloth, and laid within the bowels
of the earth beside his father. The people looked on
the face of the king with tearful eyes, and, as required by
their rites, they threw a handful of earth on him; as if
to indicate that there would be no other king like him,
and that the world was ruined by his death. Monarchs
who had conquered powerful enemies in battle, had
covered the earth with riches, and had given wealth
to all; who had built cities named after them, and
were well known in other countries; who had long reign-
ed in the country possessed of the seven component
parts of royalty, leave all behind in the end, and
receive only the winding sheet for their portion. Scorched