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

KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 361
Pālaḍa, and in other places, and for a hundred days
he remained without any fear. But one night the
king issued from the army of Chakrī and went to
Yāṭikātala in Lahara, and Kācha Chakra left Kashmīra
in fear. This dispute between the Mārgapatis and
Chakresha 'was like a desert tract in which the wise
Ālemera caused flowers and young plants to grow.
When the angry minister Chakresha had gone to
Hinduvāṭa, the king reigned in the country surrounded
by the Mārgapati ministers. Chakresha had his army
with him, and like Shrī Jainashāha, he exacted tri-
bute from petty chiefs with tact. His heroic brothers,
Tāja Chakra and others, killed the Muggulas in a fight
at Lahara and in other places and performed deeds
befitting their youth. Chakresha believed that all this
was the effect of the intrigue of the heir-apparent, and
like a huge serpent he surrounded Eskandhara on all
sides. When the king saw Chakrapati's boldness, he
caused him to be brought into Kashmīra in the summer
of the year 4.
It is well known in the world that the father, the
brother, or the son of a king is his enemy, on account
of his desire to take possession of the kingdom. Other
enemies can do nothing worse. The Mārgapatis who
knew of this danger of kings went with their army to
country outside Kashmīra by the Kichāshrama road.
But when Chakrapati arrived, bringing with him Eskan-
dara Khāna, who was like a hawk among his enemies,
31

362 KINGS OF KASHMÍRA.
the king became glad, for he thought that his king-
dom had now become free from danger. Eskandara was
not destined to see the world again, he was carried into
the palace by the servants of the king, and his lotus-like
eyes were put out. Cruel men extracted the eyes of the
prince, by the order of the king, even as the hawks do of
the deer. And even as the cranes behave towards the
deer so did they behave towards the prince. The pain
which he then felt could not be described ; but the curse
of the prince's parents, or it may be of the prince himself,
was realised on the relentless servants of the king who
had acted with great cruelty towards the prince.
Chakreksha knew that the Mārgapatis were stationed
at Kīrtyāshrama, he therefore went from Varāhamūla and
entered Shrīnagara. He then crossed the river, and the
two armies met, as if to see who gains and who loses
the battle in which many men perished. Malleka Dau-
lata, son of Chakrī's brother, arrived at night after cross-
ing the hill, and drove out the chief of the Mārgapatis
from the country. Meyā Mera the chief of the Mārga-
patis was unable to travel by the road, and some armed
soldiers perished in the way. Thus when the Mārgapatis
had fled in fear, and were perishing, Mahammada Shāha,
surrounded by the Chakrīs, went into the city.
A foolish man feels happy when his enemy is
destroyed, even like a fire that is quenched ; but it
sometimes happens that a great fire bursts out from his
house ! King Mahammada Shāha was to be deprived of

KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 363
his kingdom by his own son ! O strange are the works
of fate !
The king had placed his son Ebrāhima Khāna as a
hostage in the house of the lord of Gaja. But there
scattered by the tempest of a battle with the Turuṣhkas,
the soldiers of the prince escaped with their valuable
lives, as by a boat in a sea. It was because the
prince was destined to obtain a kingdom hereafter, that
he escaped with his life from that battle. He grew in
the affection of his father and came to Kashmīra. In
the meantime Chakrapati intended to usurp the
kingdom, and his evil design afflicted the king
even like cholera ; and as a physician treats a
difficult disease by strong measures, even so Chakrapati
in anger cast the king's confidential persons Malleka
Laddabhaṭṭa and others into prison. Now Ālimera had
been confined in the house of Tāja Chakra ; but one
night Ālimera's followers deceived the guards, took him
out of the prison, and removed him to a distance. Chakra
became angry with Mahammada Shāha on account of his
ill behaviour and harsh and abusive language and set
him aside in a few days, even as Rāhu obscures the
moon during eclipse. Thus was king Mahammada
dethroned after reigning in Kashmīra for eleven years,
ten months, and ten days. The pain which the Khāna
had endured on his being blinded was now borne by the
king on his being deposed. Virtue bears fruit in time,
but the effect of plucking out the prince's eyes was seen

364 KINGS OF KASHMÍRA.
without delay. Chakri then sent the king to a place
named Gaggaḍa in the country of the Khashas.
Thus the dethronement of Mahammada Shāha took
place.
I bow to Mahādeva who is the cause of the creation,
the preservation, and the destruction of the universe ;
who is the bridge by which to cross over our sea-like
worldly existence ; and who is in himself Brahmā, Vish-
ṇu, and Rudra ;
Kāñchana Chakra then raised the son of Mahammada
to the kingdom, and named him Ebrāhima Shāha.
He took possession of the money derived from taxes,
and with it he undertook to manage the kingdom. He
thus raised his post of minister to glory. He gave the
estates of Nāgrāma and others, which were worthy of
kings, to Tāja Chakresha, Meyyā Mera, and to his other
younger brothers.
Now in the country outside Kashmira, the angry
Mārgesha Abdāla went in search of service to Merja
Vābhora, king of Dilli, and the chief of the Muggulas.
This king of the Turushkas observed the external and the
mental emotions of the Mārgapati, heard what he had to
say of his work, and for a short time held down his head
in wonder. He understood the worth of that chief mi-
nister, and gave him one thousand valiant soldiers. In
the month of Vaishākha Chakrapati, who shone in his
own valour, heard of this news which had spread itself in
the country of Pañchamahāyana. The Chakris were in

KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 365
the enjoyment of the pleasures of heaven on earth when
the great Mārgapati warriors Malleka Abdāla, Mārgesha
Luhara, and others crossed the mountains, and soon came
within Kashmīra from Vāngela, accompanied by the
Muggulas Shikhāla Bhega, Mahmoda Khāna, and others.
They united themselves together, placed Nājoka son of
Phatāha Shāha at their head, and halted in the desert of
Pratāpapura well prepared for battle. . When Chakrapati
heard of this, he stationed his soldiers at Nīlāshva, and
the warriors came out from the two armies and dis-
played their devotion to their masters. As birds spread
themselves over the sky, even so did the enemies and
the mlechchha soldiers cover all sides, so that Chakra-
pati, though supported by his army, could not move a
step. At this time a messenger arrived and conveyed
the following message of the Mārgesha to Chakrapati :—
"O Chakrapati ! I have for my help brought in these
followers of king Mereja Vābhora who by his own valour
has made the petty kings in foreign countries his tribu-
taries, and who has killed the illustrious and powerful
Ebrāhima the lord of Gaja, surrounded as he was by five
hundred thousand soldiers ; now gather up your strength
for battle." When the letter carrier had thus said,
Chakresha replied as follows :—"Dilli is not your country
neither are we the inhabitants of Kashmīra, you will
derive no benefit from the country of the powerful
Muggulas."
Now the heroes and the strong and powerful

366 KINGS OF KASHMÍRA.

men who wielded bows,—Ebrāhima Khāna, Seraṅga,
Mera Malleka Tājaka; as also Malleka Luhara and
others on the side of the Mārgesha; and Riga
Chakresha Malleka, and the mlechchhas Shikhi Bhiga,
and others were determined to show how the battle
of the Kuru-Pāṇḍavas was fought. The heroes proud of
the strength of their arm issued out for battle. The
great warrior Riga Chakresha hurrled a spear against the
enemies but it was broken by Tāja Mera a man of uncom-
mon prowess. Mera Seraṅga struck with his sword,
but his enemy Luhara Mera felt it as if it were a blow
caused by a flower. Thus the great warriors fought
with one another in this great battle; they filled all
sides with valour even as musk does with sweet scent.
At this time Tāja Chakresha with his soldiers joined the
battle, his banner fluttering in the breeze as if challeng-
ing the enemies. The battle between the armies of
Chakresha and the Mārgesha raged round him, and as
the combatants fell, there arose the cries of “come,”
“kill,” “stay.” When Mārgapati Luhara saw Tāja Chakra
in the midst of the battle, he came up to him and said,—
“Fight on, what else can you do, what else can man do
than serve his master”? When Malleka Tāja heard
this, he fought with the heroes for a long time, and
then lay on a hero’s bed graced by the women of
heaven. When his career had ended, Meyyā Malleka,
Seraṅga Mera, and other brothers of Chakrī joined the
Muggulas. Chakresha saw the destruction of his army,

KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 367
and, overcome with fear and grief, he went to the house
of a Khasha with a few soldiers.
The Mârgapatis Malleka Abdâla and others gave
assurance of safety to the people who were overcome
with fear ; and entered the city. All the Mârgapatis
then went to the yard of the king's palace, and there they
bestowed the royal insignia adorned with umbrella and
châmara on prince Nâjoka Shâha. He then ascended
the throne of his father, and all the people, high and
low, were filled with joy. The ministers then went
to Jamâla Maruga, and at that place a division of
land into four parts was made, one for Malleka Abdâlaka,
one for Âlemera, one for Mârgesha Luhara, and one
for Riga Chakra.
When the kingdom was given to Nâjoka Khâna,
Dauluta Chakkaka could not enjoy it, because he assigned
it to another. When the people, who used to tremble
at the mlechchhas, saw this new king begin his reign,
they were as glad as those who trembled in winter
always are at the advent of spring. The people began
to prosper when Nâjoka Khâna accepted the kingdom,
even like the lotuses at the rising of the sun. Those
who were quarrelling with one another were reconciled ;
but on account of the division of villages enmity began
to grow slowly among them. Ederaiṇa and other servants
of Merja Haidara remained at Sadāshivapura because
of their quarrel with the Chakka clan. Chakkaka
Dauluta and others arrived at the banks of the Vitastâ

368 KINGS OF KASHMÍRA.
and remained at Samudramaṭha, and thence fought with
their enemies by means of fire arms. After fighting for
a month with fire arms and arrows, the party of · Dauluta
Chakka obtained the victory.
Then the great men of the country sent a messenger
who verbally delivered to Chakrapati, who was in
the house of the Khashas, the following message
of the Mārgesha :—"O Chakrapati! it was by wicked
minister like you that the devotion due from the minis-
ters to the king was withheld, even as the moonbeam
is by a cloud. The ministers used to wait with clasped
hands before the boy king during his reign in accord-
ance with the duties they owed to government; but
why has that king been imprisoned by you? What fool
can by a pitcher shade the sun?" When Chakrapati
heard these words from the mouth of the messenger, he
released the king. Mahammada Shāha then came to
Lohara and exacted revenues and other taxes from towns
like the former sovereigns of the country. This wise
king then consulted the Mārgeshas and gave leave to
the Muggulas to depart. He honored the Mārgapatis
and gave them their posts. The Turuṣhkas passed over
Lohara and reached their homes; and Ālimera received
Mahammada Shāha, his old master. Here the Mera
passed the winter, and then, as advised by the Mārgesha,
he took the king, who was like the season of spring, to
the gardens of Kashmīra. Nājoka, after having reigned
for one year, received from king Mahammada Shāha

KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. [p. 369]

the post of heir-apparent, in the month of Jaiṣhṭha, on
the tenth day of the bright moon. It was in the summer
of the year 6 that Mahammada Shāha was released
from the house of the Khashas, and was congratulated
as being born again, and was crowned by the minis-
ters. At this time Mereja Vābhora went to heaven,
leaving his possessions to his two sons Homāya and
Kāmarāṇa.
In the year 7, Kācha Chakrapati intended to fight
with the Mārgapatis, and he moved out with his army
from the village of Maurvvāra to a distant place;
and a comet appeared on the west, when he had
departed, as if the west had been his wife and had
held the comet on her head in anger on being deprived
of her love. Mahroma, the general of Kāmarāṇa, came
in the bright fortnight of the month of Kārttika, to
conquer Kashmīra. He was accompanied by Shikhāla
Bhiga, Mahmoda Khāna, and other Muggulas; and
they filled all sides with their strong and thundering
army. When Mahammada Shāha heard of this, he, by
means of the Mārgapatis, soon called in Chakrapati
with proclamations, for his help, and honored him.
The mlechchhas entered the city with thousands of
cavalry, and the Kashmīrians placed their soldiers
within forts. The citizens went out by different ways to
the caverns of mountains in fear, and as the mlechchha
soldiers outnumbered the Kashmīrian warriors, the latter
were destroyed. The Muggulas who had plundered

370 KINGS OF KASHMÍRA.
Kudvadīna found the beautiful capital empty, and in
anger set fire to the houses and the palace. The warriors
now came out of their forts with a view to fight with
the Turuṣhkas, and they willingly sold their lives, and
they all obtained fame. The cruel Turuṣhkas, the des-
troyers of the Juluchyas, killed thousands of people in
villages, in the capital, and in the kingdom. Then the
Kashmīrian warriors,—the Mārgeshas and the Chakrīs,
made peace among themselves, and drove the Turṣhkas
away, even as the sun's rays drive away darkness.
Thus the ravages of the Turuṣhkas took place.
The warriors now relieved of their desperate task
lived in their own homes. Kācha Chakra was afraid of
the coldness shown by the Mārgeshas towards him, and
he went out of the country. He came again from
Shūrapura, in the summer of the year 8, but finding
that his force would meet with resistance, he went out
in the same manner as he had come.
In the month of Agrahāyaṇa in autumn, Meroja
Haidara and other leaders of Kāskāra* troops of king
Shrī Saida Khāna, came to this country with twelve
thousand cavalry in order to subdue the people of
Kashmīra, even as the hawk comes to prey upon other
birds. They came from Koṭa to Gagana hill, and thence
they entered the capital. The good people were distressd
when they heard of this news; they considered the
ravages of the Kāskāras as being of greater magnitude.

• The country which lies between Chitral and Kaffristhan.

KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 371
than those of the Turuṣhkas, even as the eclipse of the
sun is, than that of the moon. All living creatures
left the place, and the rows of houses looked like heaps
of corpses, breathless and frightful; and these incen-
diaries conquered the town of Sekandhara in order
to burn it. Hundreds of thousands of low houses
were burnt, and the city that had been populous
before new became like the ground for burning
the dead, fearful to look at with its charred
wood. Where will kings get two such capitals
in which millions had been spent in lime, wood, brick,
and painting? Shrī Jainanagara and Diddāmaṭha, which
had stood like images of the virtues of kings, were
deserted on account of fire. Surely the Muggulas had
evil sprites under their command, for they discovered
the hidden treasures of the citizens in their houses.
The leader of the Kashmīrian army took shelter in the
king's lands which were covered with water, in fear of
the mlechchhas. When the people of Chiroḍḍāra,
Aṅgakoṭṭa, and Chakradhara in Hājya country heard of
the acts of the mlechchhas, they spent three months in
fighting with them. The Khasha Dainyarūpa fought,
but without any effect, with the Kashmīrians who were
stationed near Chakradhara. The Turuṣhkas robbed
the crops, killed the villagers in anger, and made
Maḍavarājya unapproachable. Those persons, young
and old, who reached the level tract of Saṃkhayāshrama,
lived at ease, for they had yet a portion of their

372 KINGS OF KASHMÍRA.
destined life to spend. It was owing to the evil deeds of
sinful men that calamities had before now visited this
country, such as the ravages of the Juluchyas, and
the battle of Kajjala.
The Mārgapatis headed by Chakresha joined the
king, they came from Chakradhara, crossed over from
the left side of the Ledarī, and pitched their tents near
Bhīmādevi, with a view to fight. In the battle which
there took place Eskandara Khāna, Merja Haidara,
and other great warriors united themselves together
and went against the Kashmīrians; and Mallekālaka
Hosana Mera, Shikhāla, and Kamāla Mera, in the two
armies sacrificed their lives at the foot of Mārttāṇḍa.
Some Kāskārian warriors made a good use of their lives
in the contest with Mallekāla and others, and went to
heaven. Ālimera perished in the battle with the Muggula
chiefs, in the cause of his country. O fools! look at
that death and ever serve your king, and leave aside all
fleeting riches of the world. The Kashmīrian soldiers
fled like Vidura when Ālimera died, though cheered by
Chakresha and the Mārgapati chiefs. The headless
dancing goblins, the Yakṣhas, men, sprites, and Rākṣhasas
were eager to devour human flesh in this field of
battle, which looked like a place crowded with the
followers of a bridegroom. The survivors returned to
their places of shelter from the field of battle where men
had been drunk, as in a garden, with warriors' wine.
Then in accordance with the orders of the king,

KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 373
Chakresha and the Mārgesha, great on account of their
valour, held a consultation, and established peace with
the Muggulas. The Muggulas took nine pieces of
cloth, and a green coloured letter marked with the
words ‘Katephasohasaglata’ in Mausula character and
language. They returned from the presence of the king,
exulting with joy; they carried some idiotic men and
woman in the van of their army, but Hassana Mera took
pity on the idiots, released them, and brought them
back from the neighbourhood of Puṣhyat. Then in the
year 9, in the month of Jyaiṣhṭha, the Muggulas re-
turned to their country, taking with them by force the
wealth of the people, and by treaty the daughter of the
king. In this way calamity befell the sinful people
in the Satīsara country, and a comet was seen continu-
ally in the sky on the east and on the west.
Thus the ravages of the Kāskārians took place.
Stars fell from the sky on the fields where the full
harvest of rice was ripening, and a comet became again
visible. Even as a Rākṣhasa devours a king so did
this calamity devoured the grains; and there happened
a great famine, the destroyer of food. When Famine
entered the kingdom, his powerful soldiers, hunger and
thirst, the oppressors of the people, stalked about. One
khāri of grain was then bought for ten thousand pieces
of niṣhka,* and none but the rich could get it. Men
and women wandered about in hunger in order to save

• A nishka is supposed to be equal to a dīnára.
  32

374 KINGS OF KASHMÍRA.
their lives, casting aside their love for husband, for son,
and the service due towards their parents. The hungry
people ate twice or thrice or four times during day, and
yet again wandered about like sprites in quest of food.
Abdāla Malleka and others were bent on doing acts of
virtue at this time, they cooked a large quantity of grain
and fed the people every day. Men died of hunger and
thirst in villages, in the city, and in the king's highway,
and lay like sprites, and uncounted. Some people
saved their lives by selling their stores of silver and
baser metals, and by living on herbs, walnuts, and heart-
pease. The calamity caused by the famine was greater
than the ravages done by the enemies, even as a bad boil
is more troublesome than the disease of the throat or of
the eye. The famine became more severe at the end of
the month of Jyaishṭha, in the year 10, than what it
had been in the year 9, and spread itself all over the
country. Then a good season, like the minister of
king Food, brightened all sides with small seeds as with
lamps, and came to struggle with Famine. As wheat
grew on stocks and rose from the ground, and looked
like a terrace, its grains welcomed, as it were, the survi-
vors. It seemed as if when king Food saw his army
overpowered, he came himself to conquer the powerful
Famine which was like a mighty Rākṣhasa. He spread
out his great army of vegetables and rice and coarse
grain, and the walnuts were the stones he shot from his
machines. He conquered Famine, and then took his

KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 375
rest. The lean creatures were nourished by the produce
of king Food, and they always thought that they were
born again.
Thus the ravages of the famine took place.
Now Kāñchana Chakresha, by the orders of the Mārga-
pati graced the place of minister before the king, and
stayed at Janapura. Called by the Chaṇḍālas, Chak-
resha went to Maḍavarājya, but there he experienced
coldness from the Mārgapatis and he imposed a fine
on the land. At this time the men who lived at
ease in their houses grievously oppressed this great
country, even as a vile disease oppresses the body. It
was owing to the sin of these oppressions and through
the force of fate that the king Mahammada Shāha
fell ill at the latter part of Chaitra in the year 13.
When the king found himself attacked by illness, and
exhausted, he thus said affectionately to his minister
Malleka Laddabhaṭṭa :—"Though our body is nourished
according as we acquire virtue or vice from the per-
formance of our kingly duties, yet it is universally true
that the body is subject to destruction. Our ancestors,
kings Shamsadena and others, and Shrī Jainollābhadena
were great in our family, and I am born in their dynasty.
My mind had always been anxious to know who would
be obedient to me and to what extent ; and to-day that
mind is being consumed by fever." When the king
had said this and remained quiet, Mārgesha Abdāla and
others who were present saw his condition, and with

376 KINGS OF KASHMÍRA.
tears in their eyes, thus spoke to him :—"It was owing
to oppressions caused by us O king! or owing to the
misfortune of the subjects, that you are afflicted with
this bodily torment, even as the soul is afflicted for the
sin of being born." When the king heard their words
he said :—"You should always protect our children, we
are now going by a road which is remote from here."
When the men heard these words of the king there
arose cries of lamentation in the palace. That day the
king gave one koti of coin to be spent for religious pur-
poses, for when the month of spring had arrived, the
liberal minded king, oppressed with pain, believed that
he would die in a dark fortnight. On Thursday, the
first of the month of Jyaiṣhṭha, in the bright fortnight,
this virtuous sun among men set after having reigned a
second time for five years.
When the king had ascended to heaven, the people
lamented for him, and thus said in their grief;—
"Whose protection should we now seek when thou
hast gone to heaven? O beautiful like the moon,
and powerful like Kārttikeya! O king! without thee
who shall protect us in our times of difficulty? Where
wilt thou go O king Mahammada! leaving this earth?"
Thus loudly the people lamented as they stood at
the gate of the palace, and it seemed as if the tears
from their eyes served the last offering of water to
the deceased sovereign. The ministers then placed
the corpse in a litter, and bore it on their shoulders

KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 377

to the great grave-yard, and laid it within the ground
beside his father. What a difference there is between
a king lying on his bed soft as the moon and befit-
ting a sovereign, and one lying in deep darkness
within a hole in a gravelly ground ? That day the people
remained dumb with grief, and their sighs only were per-
ceptible. No smoke was seen rising from their houses,
for they did not cook their food that day.
Thus Mahammada Shāha ascended to heaven.
Mahammada Shāha's son whom the Mārgesha
wished to have as king, was, in the midst of applause
of all, crowned by the minister under the name of
Shamsa Shāha. All the wicked and powerful favourites of
the late king were glad to see a young sovereign begin
a new reign. Shamsa Shāha arrived at the palace,
accompanied by his younger brother, and heard the
blessings of the people on the way saying ;—"Let him
remain long in his ancestral kingdom." After the king
had seated himself firmly in the kingdom, the powerful
Kācha Chakrapati, to whom Riga Chakra had held out
some hopes, came to the city from Jainapura. When
Mārgesha Hossana saw that hero come, he joined
Utsabhaṭṭa and went to the Mārgapati at Kichāshrama.
Kācha Chakra, the destroyer of his enemies, entered the
beautiful city, and he was honored by the king with
his affection. Kāñchana Chakresha knew that his ene-
mies were at a distance, and in order to subdue them
he encamped with his army at Gardhasoḍḍāra. When

378 KINGS OF KASHMÍRA.
the Mārgapatis heard that their powerful enemy lay very
near to them, they soon placed their troops in the
neighbourhood of Jalagada. Then the noble minded
Riga Chakresha went to Kācha Chakra and to the chief
of the Mārgapatis, and by despatching messengers tried
to establish peace between the parties. "Let Kācha
Chakresha" he said "remain in the city, and the Mārga-
patis in Kramarājya, and I am equally inclined to both."
Thus he established peace between them.
Then the hero Kācha Chakresha brought over to
him his friends Jaita Chakresha, Malleka Dauluta, and
Ebhrāhma Khāna from among the army of the Mārga-
patis, and triumphantly went up to the city, and lived in
the house of Riga Chakra. In the illustrious Kāñchana
Chakrapati his name has its full significance, on account
of the gifts of gold that he gave, we have actually seen
the marks of petals of a lotus in the palm of your hand
which indicate your charity. Let your left hand continue
to do good to others for a thousand years! O chief of
of the Mārgapatis! the king of the seasons (spring) has
seen your white fame, and with a view to serve you in
every way, has joined the lord of the zodiac (sun), cele-
brating your triumph with garlands of Jasmine and
Mañchari flowers, and of the Karṇikāra buds; and
with the hum of the black-bees and the voice of kokilas.
All are happy at every act of yours. Let the season of
spring afford you objects pleasent to you!
So long as Kācha Chakra the arbiter in all things

KINGS OF KASHMÍRA. 379
remained with the king, the strength of the powerful was,
owing to his prowess, found in the weak. Riga Chakra
came and spent a few days with him ; but finding that
Kācha Chakra loved him but slightly, he returned. He
went to the Mārgesha whom he knew to be like a strong
malady to Kācha Chakra, and told him of the purposes
of Chakresha ; and he brought together the officers of
the king’s vanguard and consulted with them. There
were celebrated ministers in the land of Kashmīra,
Malleka Shrī Daúluta, Gāja Khāna, Chakresha, and
others. They were wise in council, and were like Bhīma,
Arjuna, and Droṇa in the field of battle.
Mārgesha Abdāla had invited the Mereja to come to
Kashmīra, but in fear of Chakrī he had thought that he
would not be able to obtain possession of the country.
Now Malleka Kācha Chakresha went to Hinduvāṭa and
there died, and the minds of the Kashmīrians who lived
outside their country became darkened. The great Mereja
Haidhara heard of this event, and he took possession of
the kingdom of Kashmīra as if it had come to him
from his ancestors. The Muggulas, at the death of
Chakresha; spread themselves over the kingdom without
fear or dread, like goblins at the shrine of Shāradā ; and
their people came like bees from foreign countries to
Mereja Mashugola* who was in Kashmīra. When their
number increased, they, instigated by Mashugola, seized
lands from those who had possessed them for years

• The same as Mereja Haidhara ?

380 KINGS OF KASHMÍRA.
before either by plunder or by gift. By virtue of writs
given in the Mausula character by the Devāna,* the
mlechchha leaders of troops took possession of lands
in this affrighted kingdom, and.thus deprived the people
of their income. Thus in the month of Shrāvaṇa of the
year 22, the country witnessed the poor people almost
dying, and like a chaste woman trembled in fear. But
owing to the victory which the people of Kashmīra then
obtained, the Muggulas fled from the country, and the
people again were eager to get possession of lands in
order that they might acquire wealth. It was on account
of the association of the people with the Turuṣhkas that
they did not give up their fondness for dress, land, and
food, the last of which brought in punishment on them, in
as much as they had to place themselves hereafter under
medical treatment. Even when the wealthy people saw
the effects of sumptuous eating, they did not give up
their evil desire for food, even as great physicians do
not give up their treatment of patients in accordance
with the shāstras.
In the month of Āshvina of the year 30, there
occurred frequent earthquakes on account of the
wicked acts of the king, as if the earth suffered from
flatulency. The planet which causes calamity is
assuaged by various acts, by gifts of land to independent
people, by giving back to men their properties
which had been robbed, and by like deeds. Now

• Dewan of the emperor of Delhi ?