KINGS OF KASHMIRA ‘BEING A TRANSLATION OF TIE SANSKRITA WORK RATATARANGGINI or aAuvana PanDITA. og JOGESH CHUNDERyDUTT. Galeatia: Patan sy I. C, Bosn & Co., Stannorn Press, 249, Bow-Bagan Srancr, anp PuBLISHOD BY THE AUTHOR. 1879. [ AU rights reserved. } LONDON: TRUBNER & CO,90° MY YOUNGER BROTHER ROMESH CHUNDER DUTT ov HER MAJESTYS CIVIL SERVICE AND OF THE, MIDDLE TEMPLE, BARRISTER-AT-LAW, THE PRESENT WORK 1S DEDICATED As, a token of brother's sincere esteem and affection.CONTENTS. Book I a 4 os on ww 1 Book IL a we . "Book IIL we ” Book IV on on Book V we we on Book VI oe on one . Book VII ae we ns aoe we 169 Appendix A oe we an on Appendix Bw. ose o swe Appendix 0 rs on oes oy Appendiz D on o bee nae Appendix E Appendix F ” Appendix 0°... . . Appendix H oo oe ~~ one Appendix. I eae ow a oe Appendix J “ we ane a a Appendix EK BES bRaw wage. Appendix L ow oe ore ue ‘List of kings o ae oe a CERRATA, Page 97, footnote; for Appandig D read Appendix 1, wo» 167,lne 2,,, B89 4 E79,PREFACE, Hh . Separatep frem the rest of tho world, on the north hy the lofty rauge of the Him4laya mountains, and on other sides by the sea, Ind-y has {vom the envliest period epresented to its people a world by itself. And within this vast continent lived from the remotest autiquity @ portion of the Aryan race who developed amoug themselves a degree of civilization unattained by avy other nation of antiquity. This people, though origi- nating from the*same stock, speaking the dinleots of the same language, and following the dictates of the samo religion, had enrly divided themselves into different tribes according to the physical nature of the portion of the conntry which they cach came to oceupy. The Kashmirinis and the Nepalese who inhabited the moun- tainous regions of the Himalayas, diffored froma those who dwelt in tho valleys of the Indus or the Ganges, or occupied the deserts of Rajputana orthe tableland of Mah§- rféshire. Nor did the division cense here. There were minuter sub-divisious, and the country was out up into small principalities and tribes, each tribe having o chief of their own, speaking a distinct dialect, settling in a definite tract of country “which they generally named after themselves. Houen Sang, the Chinese pilgrim, who visited India inthe 7th century after Christ, »speaks of 138 such principalities, of which 110 were personally visited by him. These petty *tribes seem to have kept frp a continual strife with one another, subduing andi PREPACE, being subdued in turn, And many were the tribes that rose to influence from time to time, reducing their neighbours to a state of vassalage, and styling themeelves the Jords of the seagirt world. Nor were their affairs always confined within the geographical limits of India. They had frequent intercourse with almost all the ancient nations, Their ships visited China and the Eastern, Archipelago, and they were visited in turn by Arab ships and merchants who exported Indian commodities to Bagdad, Egypt aud Europe. Forsigners- also came ag invaders, aud not unfrequeutly as travellers, Of the succession of events which took place among each and all of the numerous tribes that dwelt and are still dwelling in Indin from the remotest antiqnity, we have no authentic records, The Ramayana, the Muahabhérata and other ponderous volumes, though giving faithful pic- tures of the atate of the people and their habits feelings, manners, &c., during the periods when those works wore composed, yield but little information regarding historical events. The Rémfyana furnishes us with but meagre annals of a single line of kings who reigned in one town, Ayodhya, and its neighbourhood ; and the greater portion of the work is devoted to deccription of g single reign, that of Rama, a description which outrages sober belief. Mahébhérata likewiso narrates the wanderings and wars of the five sons of Pandu, and the narration is mixed with stories of the past méstly of an absurd and romda- tiokind. Such being the character of the books we now,PREFACE, iii possess, an attempt to write a history, in its usual Sense, of India, mustaat present remain a hopeless task, Whiles so much deatth prevails in the department of Indian history, an accoutt of a people who lived from , the varliest period’ in a corner of India, may not, it is hoped, be unacceptable. The present work, it should be stated, pretends to be nothing more than a faithful render- ing into English of a history which already exists in the Sanskrita Ianguage.* ‘The first part of the book, the Réjataranggini,*has been written by Kahlana Pandita, son of Champeka, It embraces the history of the country from tho earliest period to the time of the author, A.D. 1148, The noxt part entitled Rajabali has been written by Jonaraja, and brings tho history down to A.D. 1412 ; and this again has been continued under the name of Jainoréjntyzanggin{ by his pupil Sri Vara Pandita to A.D, 1477, The fourth and Inst part, the Réjévalipitaka, brings down the history of the country to the time of its conquest by Akbar, and was written by Prajya Bhatta at the time of that emperor. The present translation em- braces the history of the country from the earliest times to the reign of king Harsha, A.D, 1101, about one- half of the work,of Kablana Pandite, It is the intention of the Translator ‘to bring down the history in two more volumes to the period of the conquest of the vélley by * The Translator has howavernghought it necessary to -omit from the text such atories as relate to superhuman agencies, Fei & give them io the form of appendix, in order to preserve continuity of historical narration.iv PREFACE, Akbar. He cnn, however, hold out no promise to his renders to this effect, as his time is nof always at his cominand, . It is matter af just rograt/ that the work is disfigured in many places with what in modern times would be, considered immodest writing, ‘The time of the author perhaps allowed such writing. However that may be, all that the Translator has to state for himself is that he has not thonght himself justified to improve upon his original, and that his only object throughout this- performance hag been to offer to his renders faithful translation of the original, with all its beauties and defects, Mr. Wilson has already favored the English reading public with a sketch of a small portion (first six cantos) of the history of Kashmfra. (See Asintio Researches, Vol. 15.) But it is after all a sketch, and a sketch made from very imperfect copies; and thongh iS materials are mostly drawn from the Sanskrita work, yet it is mixed up with the whimsical additions and alterations which appear in the Persian translation. In conclusion, the writer has only to add that in his earlier years he always cherished the idea of writing o complete history of India from, original Sanskrita records. Riper years shewed him the folly of gach an attempt. His inability to undertake such a gigantic task, even if the maéerials had not been wanting, should have made him think twice before entertaining such a hope. Never- theless the idea imbibed in younger days,“and fondlyPREFAOE. v cherished from year to year, thy writer hos found it diffi- cult altogether te give up. It was for a long time” his “wish to coynect his attempts with a history of India, and this hope or vanity he has now attempted to gratify by the comparatively lighter task of rendering a history which already exists in the Sanskrita language into Epglish. Even while this work was in progress, he was too often and too painfully reminded by the difficulties he met, of his own weakness. Catcurta, } 13th August 1879. J.C, DUTT.KINGS OF KASHMIRA. BOOK {* Wnuar an indescribable thing, is tho merit of a good poet! By means of it, his own fame as well as that of others is immortalised ! Who, but a poet can bring back the past iu sweet composition, and what can make it intelligible if his art cannot? Althongh grace has been sncrified in jis work, for the sake of briefueas, yet there are some things which will plense the good. Happy is he, who ig without worldliness and envy, and is favored by the Goddess of Leurning in narrating the past, I shall include past records in my writing, and the good will not turn away without knowing the usefalnoss of my work, Modern writers have tampéred with the records of the eye*witnésges of past’ events, and it requires’ skill, therefore, to write a history of the past. To write the truth is my. object. 7 ~ * An invocatibn to Hara and Parvati, with which the work boging, firs been left out, ,2 KINGS OF KASHMfNA, ‘The elaborate original records were epitomized by Suvrata, in order that they might beismembered with, ease, and so the original was list. The style of Suvrate is tough and obsoure. £ Though Kshesandra had the powers of a post, yet through his carelessness, his history of kings has become faulty. . T have seen eleven old works on the history of kings, ard also the book of Nilamuni, ond have corrected many © errors by examining gift-deeds of ancient kings. Twelve thousand works on the history of kings were compiled by the great ascetic Helgraja. No mention is made of fifty-two kings on account of their irreligion. Four of these, Gonanda, &e., are named by Nilamuni; Padmamihira following Heliraja gives an account of eight kings, desceudants of Ashoka from Lava; ald Shrichobhavillaka speaks of five only. He writes, “from Ashoka to Abhimanyu five kings havo been named out of fifty-two.” These fifty-two kings, whose histories have not been written because of their evil works, were contemporaneous with the Kauravas and the Kaunteyas of the Kali Yuga.- Thoy reigned with might, rode elephants, attained great prosperi- ty, ard in their houses were ladies, hidden from view like moonlight in the open day; yet these great men are not now kuoWa or remembered, as if they had never been born, simply because posts did not favsrKings oF KAsimira. 3 them by writing their histories. I bow to the poet's great art withouw®hich the world is dark. . ° [ The author has takon real pains to fix tho date of the original dynasty. We have given his clabornte arguments eémbating certain then-existing errors on the subject, as well as our caleulations fixing tho dates of tho different reigns and evtnts as deduced from the author’s date, in Appendix A. Translator.) Kashmira is stydded with high cliffs, and cannot le conquored even by the strength of a good army ; and the people are afraid of nothing but of the future world, In winter there are hot baths by the river, in summer the cool river-bauks ; and the rivers aro calm, and not infes- ted with water animals. It isa country whero the sun shines mildly, being the place cronted by Kashayapa ss if for his gkfy. High school-houses, tho saffron, iver water, and grapes, which are rare oven jn heaven, are common horo, Kailfsa is the best place in the three worlds, Himalaya the best part of Kailésa, and Kasbmira tue best place in Himalaya, The following is alist of gods and holy things which existed in K­aiva from tlfe earliest time :— Au wooden image of Shiva, the destroyer of vice, to touch which is to gain salvation ; A® ourrentof water which flows at evening over a hill. This cau be séen by the virtuous, but not by the vicious ;4 RINGS oF RAsmMiRA, Tyahm& in the shape of fire, which rising from tho earth burnt the forest ; ‘The goddess Saraswat{ in tHe form of a awaii in a lake on the top of the Devibheng’ Rock whence the Ganges takes its rise, ® ‘The shrine of Nandi Kshetra where the spots of san- dal, with which the gods performed worship, are visibly to the present day. here, at Nandi, is also Sfradé or Durgé, by seeing whom one gains immediate salvation aud the gift of the flowing aud sweet speech of a poet. The country is adorned with gods Chakrabhrita, Vijayesha, Adi Keshaya and Ishdéna. Itis full of shrines. Bo it to the glory or shame of the country or tho time, wo will speak the truth, regarding the history of kings, This book contains accounts ef many au cient manners; and what wise men will not feel charm- el with it? Thé triumph of contentment will be apparent if the frail life of man be contemplated. Listen then to this sweet history clearly narrating tho actions of kings, For six Manvantaras from Sarskalpa the world lay filled with water, bedded in tle lop of the Hinsélaya, and on the approach of the present Vatvasvatakalpa, Kashyapa invited: the gods from above, aud struck the earth and caused it to be heaved above the water, and thus established the kingdonf of Késhmira. Then reigned Nila over the Nagas ; his royal umbrella was the hood #fKINGS OF KAsuMina. & the sorpent (Naga). Thore lived various classes a WNégas whose jewels made the city as rich as the treasury of"Kuvera. The first king Nfla was invited by the Nagas to reign over them. He had a sceptre one and a half cubit long, and had an umbrella Placed over him, and a kunda. - The history then presents a blank till the reign of Gonanda I, at the beginning of the Kali yuga, This powerful king was contemporary with Yudhisthira and a friond of his *enomy Jardsindhu. Gonanda I, who rnled in Kfshm{ra, where the Ganges flows cheering the mount Kailésa on her way, was invited by Jorgsindhu to help him in his invasion of Mathuré, the capital of Krishoa. With a largo army they invested that city and encamped ou the banks of the Yamuna to the great terror of their foes. On one oocasion the army of Krishna was defeated in a battle, but Balaréma not only retrieved the confusion of his army, but ninde a vigorons attack onthe allied force. For a long time victory re- mained doubtful, till at last Gonanda I., pierced with wounds fell dead on the field, and the army of Krishna was victorious. On his death, Démodara*I. ascended the throne of Késhmtra, and though possessed of this beautiful king- dom, he was far from being happy; his proud ,heart brooded on his fathe.’s death. While in this state, he hed that the Ggudhéras had revited Krishna and his relatives to tho nuptials of some of the danghters of6 BINGS OF KASIMfRA, their tribe, to be celebrated near the banks of tho Indus, and in which tho bridegroess, were to be, chosen by the brides, Whilg great preparations were being made for the nuptial, the king moved with a lnrge army of infantry and horse, aud interrupted the festival. In tho battlo that ensued, many of the Gin- dhdras were killed, but the king, pierced to the heant with Krishno’s chakra, perished, He left his queen Yasabati pregnant, and she was by Krishna's orders raised to tho thrones This step was opposed by his envious ministers, but he silenced them ‘by repeating a verse from the Purdnas, to the effect that the girls of Kashmwfra are Pdrvvaotis. ‘ Know,” said he, “that the sovereigns of Késhmfra are portions of Hara, and they should not be hated by the wise even if they be wicked and worldly-minded. Mon does not value the woman he enjoys, but the subjects will see in her, thoir mother and goildess.” In due course the queen gave hirth to an auspicious male child, and it was a sepling of a family which had wellnigh become extinct. The ceremonies of his birth and coronation were performed by Brdéhmans, aud he grew up aud was named Gonauda after his grandfather. Two nurses were employed for him, one, his mother, to give him milk, and the other to do allpther work, His fathox’s ministers would bostow wealth on those on whom he would smile, though the smile of a child is meauingless~ If they could uot understand his lisping words they left ashamed. They would oflenKINGS OF KAsuMfRA. 7 set him upon his father's throne, his feet not reaching the footstool, ped while his hair wavod in the breeze of the chamara, they would sminister justice to his subjects in his presence. Tt was ai this time that the great battle ,of Kuru Pandava was fought, but he was then au infant, and was not therefore asked to help either of the parties. a After this, the names of thirty-five kings are lost iu the sea of oblivion, as their history haa not been writ- ten bocause of their irreligiousness. Tho next kiag whose uname is mentioned was Lava, a yenowned prince, He bad a vast and powerful army under him, and probably carried on many wavs with his neighbours. It is said of him that the noise of his army inade.his people sleepless, but lulled his enemies to long sleep (death). He built the town of Lolora which, it is said, contained no less than cighty-four lacs of stone- built housés. Nothing more is said of him than that he hestowed the village of Levara in Ledari on Brébmanas before lis death. He was succeeded by his son Kusheshaya, who was a powerful prince. Ha bestowed the village of Kuriihéra on Brébmanas, . His soy. Khggendra, whe succeeded him, was a valorous - and patient kihg. He destroyed many of the Nagas’ who were his enemies. He founded the villages of . Khégikbuna and Musa, ! “After his death his aon Suvendra succeeded him. He , awas a pring’ of great valor, of pure character, aud mild8 RINGS OF Rdsrmfins, tempor. Ho built near Darat a town named Saura, anc withih that town he erected a palace whieh he named Narendra Bhavana. Tle died oljildless. On his death one named Godhara, born of a different family, became king. He gave away the village of Haatishélé to Bréhmanas. His son Snuvarna, who reigned after him, was ac libernl prince; he gave awny gold to boggars, and eaused a caual which be called Suvarua-mani to be dugfat Karéla, . THis son Janaka was liko a father to his subjects ; he Vuilt Vihdra and Jalara, His son Shachinara, of forgiving temper and of noble mind, then ruled the kingdom ; he built Rajégrahdra aud Shaméngésgshandra, He died childless. He was succeeded by Ashoka, the great grandson of Shakuni, and son of king Shachinara’s first cousin. Tie was a truthfuband spotless king, and a follower of Buddha. He caused many stupas to be built on tho rocky banks of the Vitasté (Jhelum) at Shushkeletra, On the extremity of Dharmaranya he buitt a chaitya so high that its top could not be seen. It was he who built Srinagara, which contained no jess than ninety-six Ines of beautiful houses. He pulled down the dilapidated wall of tho compound of the temple of Srivijayesha and built a now stone wall in its stead. Ile also caused to be erected two palaces near the court- yard of that god, oud named them Ashoka ‘and Isvra,K1xos oF KAsnwfra. 9 In his reign, it appears, the Mlechchhas (Scythinns 1) pvorran the cexatry, and he retired into privacy and onded his fife in devotion, * His brave son Jaloka, said to have been the gift of Shiva whom he pleased by his worship, drove back the Mlechchhas from the country and succeeded in regainlug isis father’s throne, An account of his accomplishments, would astonish even the gods. Ifa golden egg wore thrown into a tank, he could pierce it with his arrow, He knew the art°of being under water, by which device he enjoyed the youthful danghters of the Nagas. Ho was the worshipper of*Vijayeshvara, Nandfsha and Kshetrnjyeshtesha—all, different representations of Shiva. His victory over these foreigners, which gained him great reputation, did not cease with their expulsion from his kingdom, byt he pursued them to the sea, Woary of battles against them, he rested at a place where he tied up his hair, for which reason the place wa’ named Ujjata- dimba. He then turned his arms in another direction, conquered Konouje, and thence carried to his kingdom, some men of each of the four castes, who were versed in law and religion. Before his time, Kaéshm{ra was a poor country, and jugtico was*not well administered. For the proper administration of the country he crented seven new offices, viz, : those of Chief Justice, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Treasurer, Commander-in-Chief, Ambassador, High Priest an@ Augur. He entrusted the government of Dvéra and other places to his queen10 ktwas or xAsmmfna. Ishanadevi. Ho established cightcon places of worship, and “built Véravéla and other edifices-=4 used to hear tho Nandi Purana recited by disciple of Vyasa. Me sot up the god Jeshtharudya in Srinagara, and also wor- shipped the god Sodara. Ivis narrated of this king that one day, when he wns going to the temple of Vijayeshvara, he met a woman in” the way who asked him for some food, and when he pro- mised her whatever fuod she wanted, she changed herself intd some deformed shapo and asked for human floxsh. Unwilling to kill any ono to satisfy hor unnatural appo- tite, he permittod her to take off: what sho liked from his own body, This heroic solf-devotion seemed to move her, and she remarked that for his tender regard for the life of others she coysidered him o sccond Buddha, The king, being a fellower of Shiva, did not knaw Buddha, and asked her who Buddha was whom she took him to le. She then anfolded her mission and said, that on the other side of the hill of Lokéloka, where ‘the sm never shone, there lived a tribe of Krittiké who were the followers of Buddha, This tribe, she continued with the eloquence of a missionary, were never angry even sith tiose who did them injury, forgave thom that trespassed against thera, and cven did them good They taught truth and wisdom to all, and wero willing to dispel the darkness of ignorance that covered the earth. “ But this people,” she added, “you have injured. Thore Was a monastery belonging to us in which the beating ofRINGS or KASUMERA. i drums once disturbed your sleep, and incited by the advice of, wicker men you have destroyed the monastery. Tho angry Buddhists sent me to murder you, but ou: high priest interfered; le told me that you were no powerful monarch, against whom we would not bo ,ablo tu cope. THosaid that if you would listen to mo, and ‘build a monastery with your gold, you would ntono for the sing of which you are guilty in destroying tho former one, Ifere I came therefore and tested your heart in disguife.” Krittidevt then returned to her peo-' plo afler oxtorting from the king a promiso to build a monastery, aud agreeably to his promise he caused it to he erected on tho very place of their meeting. t a\t Nandikshetra he caused a houso of Shiva Bhiitosha' to bo erected and bestowed much wealth on it, It seemy his lust days were spent in devotion, On the banks of the Kanakavéhinf there was a holy place named Chita. movhana, Here the king performed Lis devotions for’ three nights, Ab tho timo of song and dance, one hundred, fomales of his houschold rose up to dance before the god Jeshtharudra and he bestowed those women on that god. Ho and his queen died at Chframochana, Démodara 31, then ascénded the throne ; it does not ap- pear, whether this priuce was of Ashoka’s line or of some uther dynasty. He was very rich, and o devout Shaiva, tun his glory is still remembered. Tfe contracted friend- ohip with Kuvera, king of the Yakshas, a neighbouring “tube, and caused the Yukshas to build a bridge crossing a12 Kinds OF KAsmufia. swamp, and gave the name of Démodaragnda to the city huilt by him in that swamp, Ambitiow te do something, uncommonly beneficial to his feople, he thougit of erect- ing high stone embankments to prevent inundations, employing the Yakshas in the work. But an accident prevented the accomplishment of his design, One day when the king was going to bathe pervious to performing a Shraddha, some hungry Brébmanns asked him for food, byt ho disregarded their request and was proceeding to the river, when the Bralbmanas by the fofce of their wor- ship brought the river to his feet, ‘Look f’ said they, ~ here is the Vitasté (Jhelum), now feed us.” But the king suspected it to be the effect of magic, “Go away fur’ the present,” replied the king, “ I will not feed you til Ihave bathed.” The Bréhmanas then cursed him saying that he would be turned into a serpent. When much entreated to withdraw their curse, they so far miti- gated it ag to sty that if the king would listen to the . Ramayana from the beginning to the end in one day, he would again be restorad to his form, To this day, he may be seen runnivg about at Damodarasuda in the form of o thirsty serpent. Cursed is the power of Rishis, } that even auch 0 good king sbfould be destroyed by it, ! The glory loat by the force of an enemy may be restored again, Hut that destroyed by the curse of Brahmanas ne- . Ver comes back, Then there were on the throne of Kaishmfra three . kings veiguing jointly, namely, Hushke, Jushke andRINGS OF KAsHMERA. 13 Kanishka ; thoy built threo cities and called them gftor their names. «J Gila also caused x monastery to be built and another town named Jaynsvémipure, Though they were of Turashka origin, they yet built sevoral monasteries and places of worship on the plains of Shushkalajra, During their loug reigus Buddhist hermits were all-power- ftl in the country, and Buddhist religion prevailed without opposition, From the denth of Buddha Shéky-~ asinha to this time of Lokadhatu, one hundred agd fifty years had pissed. Nagarjuna a great Boddhisattva then stopped for six days in the woods of Késhmira. Thon reigned Abhimanyu without an onemy in the kingdom, and bestowed the village of Kantalontsa to Brahmanas. Ho caused an image of Shiva to bo mado ou which his name was inscribed, He algo built a city called Abbiyanyupura after his name. It was in his veign that tho grammarians Chandrécharjya and others flourished, and wroto tho history of this king with his permission, The Buddhists, under their great leader Négérjjuna, continued to gain strength in the country; they uot only defeated in argument the Panditas who upheld the worship, of Shiva, and rojected the duties prescribed *in thg Nilapurana, but had the influence to discontinue the ceromonies and worship enjoined by it. The Nagas, in consequence, rose in arms, murdereé mavy people, mostly Buddhists, by rolling down “jee from the mountains ; and carried on their devastations year by year. The king avoided these scones of tumult, and * . . B14 KINGS oF KAsHutfina, retived in winter to such places as Dérvvabhiséea, &o, At last Chandradeva, a pious, Brghmana sond_ a desceny dant of Kasyapa, appensed the tumult by worshipping Shiva who appeared to him in person, prevented the voljing of ice, and restored the rites according to the Nilapuréua, This holy man had on o former occasion stopped a massnore of tho Yakshus, e Then came Gonands IIL, to the throne, and establish- eA the rites of the Nagas according to the Nilapurgna, and the wicked Buddhists consed to be ‘oppressed. Ho was a good and powerful king, aud infused new life into the kingdom. He was the greatest of his line as Réma was in his, It is owing to the virtues of the people that good kings are born, and then the parts of the kingdom Jong dismembered are reacquirod, Those who oppress their subjects perish with their dynasties, while those who relieve tho oppressed flourish. From a study of the history of this king, the wise will be able to know the signs of prosperity or adversity with regard to future kings. He reigned for thirty-five years, After him hia son Vibbishana I, reigned for fifty-three years and six months. Then followed Indrajita. ~ o” * And then his son Révana, The Shivalinga set up by Révafin may still be seen, This lingn is marked with spots and stripes, and was kept within a templo, ang had the power of prophesy ; and to it the king dedicated the whole of his kingdom, ‘The reigns of Ravana ohdKINGS OF KASHMERA, 16 his father togethor, extended over a period of thirtysive gears and six months, Ravaue’s sou Vibhfshaua II, then reigned for thirty-five years and six months, Then came his son Nara I., sometimes called Kinngra, to the throne. Whatever he did for the benefit of his shbjects tured, from want of proper judgment, to thef injury. A Buddhist who lived in a monastery in a certain village eloped with his queen ; this so enraged him, that he burnt thousands and thousands of monas teries, and gave to the Bréhmonas, who dwelt at Madhya- ronta, the villages that supported thoso monasterios, He built « town on tho banks of the Vitnsté, which he Jaid out with spacious roads, and adorned with the spoils of other countries. It was crowded with rick shops, and graced with Suit and flowor gardens, and the river below was covered with bonts. Now, in this city dwelt a Bréhmana Those wife (the daughter of a Néga)# waa possessed of exceeding beauty, inso much that the king heard of het beauty through spies, and became enamoured of her. Not even the fear of discredit could check his wayward. heart, Then, agai, areqocident fained his passion beyond con- trol, One day while the girl was sitting on the terrace of her house, she saw o horse eating the grain whieh was left drying outside her house. She called her servants . . * See Appendix B,16 Rivas oF RdsnMfta, to drive away tho animal, but nono of them being theo, she descended horself, and holding with “ong, hand ho» veil which was slipping away owing to the haste sho mado, sho drove tho horse by pushing tho animal with tho,othor, Hor palm and fingors left a golden impross on the animal. This the king heard, and, enamoured as ho was of her, became more violent. Ho first employél porsons to soduce her, who tormonted hor with tempta- tion, but to uo offect. On this the shamoless king blind in his passion, asked for her of her own husband. This {oiled also, and ho rocoived only abusivo language in return, from the offonded husband. At last ho sent somo soldiors to snaich away tho girl, Whilo the soldiors woro atlacking tho house on the front, tho Brihmana with bis wife mado thoir exit by another way, and came to the Naga for help. There he uslated the in- sult which tho king had intended to offer to his daughter. The Naga Decame enraged, and in his vengeanco burnt down tho city; thousands who fled to Chakrachara for sholter were also burnt, and tho Vitasté ran pollnted. with scorched human remains, Tho king porished in the conflagration. Monnwhile Ramau{, the sister of the Néga, tssued out of her mountain cave and was coming to her brother’s help; ‘but when about a Pojana from the scene of action, sho heard of her brothor’s success, aud returned home after laying waste villages to the extent of five Yojanas round. ‘Tho heaps of stones with which she destroyed the villagesRings or E4smufna, 17 may be seon up to this time and is known by the name Ramanyatavie ATfer having killed many men, the Naga becnme diggusted with hiniself and wes hated by others, he retired from the placo, and lived ona distant hill, where he dug a tank which may be seen even to this day only during the festival of Amareshvarayatra, Near ‘his tank another was dug named Jamatrisara, which belonged to the Bréhmana, who through the favor his father-in-law was made a Naga, The passion of the king may appear to the senseless as nothing guilty, but for that passion Nava I, suffered what none over suffered. When a king, under the pretence of protecting his subjects, oppresses them, he generally meets such a death unawares. For it is known that the anger either of a chaste woman, or of a Bréhmana or of a god can destroy the threa worlds, Even to” this day, the burnt houses ond the tank noar the hill Chakradhara remind the poople of the oc8urrence, This king reigned over a period of thirty-nine years and nine months, and within this short time the town of Kinnavapura became as beautiful as Gandbaryvapura. It was by mere chance that Nara’a son prince Sidha was absenteat Vijoyakshetrs when tho catastrophe hap- pened to the king and his capital, and thus his life was saved from the general ruin, He set himself to repniring’ tho ravages done in the last reign. He was of a religions charfcter and led pure life, and passed his days in pence, The misfortune of his father wad an instruction18 KINGS oF KAsmufra. io him ; and though surrounded by pleasures he kept himfolf cloay of all tomptatious. Ie disregarded riches, and had his god Mahdédevacalways in “mind when-" ever he did any thing. After arcign of sixty yoors he with his servants went up bodily to Mohédovaloka, and tho" gods for soven days beat drums and published tho fact, Tho servants of Nara came to grief becauso of their attachment to him, but when they came to serve his son, they wore admired by tho world bocause they wont with him to heavon. Thoy who take shelter with others always share the samo fate with those who sholter them, be it good or bad. Tho grass, mode into a rope, des- conds into the well, but in the company of flowers ascends on the heads of the gods. His son Utpnléksha, go named from the beauty of his eyes, then roigned for thirty years and six monthe, ‘Ho was suoceoded by his son Hiranyékshd. He built a city called after his own name, and reigued for thirty- seven years and acven montha, His son Hiranyakula succeeded him and reignod sixty years, And then his son Mukula, sometimes called Vasukulo, came to the throne. He also reigned for sixty, years, In this reign the Mlechchhas overran Kaskmira, He yas succoeded by his son Mihirnkula, who was as cruel as Death, Day and night were men murdered by his orders, oven in places of his amusement ; ho relonted not even towards boys or women, nor respected the aged;EINGS OF KAsHufna, 19 and his prosonee and that of his army, were known by the assemblagg ofecrows and vultures that foasted’ on the dead.® Once he sa® the breasts of his queen marked with foot-prints of a golden color. This enraged him, and he called for explanation from the keeper of the zonana. Tho keeper replied that the queen wolea bpddice made of Ceylon cloth, and that the Cingaleso marked their clothes with golden foot-marks which denoted the foot-prints of their king, Whereupon he reached the Southern Sea and invaded Ceylon, Te assuaged his anger by killing tho king of tho place, set up another, a cruol man on his throne, and returned to his kingdom, bringing with him from Ceylon a picture of the sun nomed Ushadeve, On his return he passed through Ohola, Karndta, Nata, &c. The kings of these places fled on his approach, and returned to their ravaged oapifals after he had gone away. When entering Késhmiva, one hundved of his elephants were startled hy the ortes of one elephant which had fallen into a den, and the king ordered the hundred elephants to be killed. As the touch of the sinful pollutes the body, so the narration of his history pollutes the speech, One day when he was descending in to the river Chandra- kulyé, on his way stood a heavy block of stone which could not be moved. Now, he dreamt a dream after- wards, that the gods spoke unlo him, and said, that a Yaksha, (a spirit,) resided in it, and that it could not bo moved but by'a chaste woman, He thon put his dronm20 RINGS OF KAsuUiRA, 4o proof, and many a citizen’s wifo tried 10 movo that atone in vain, till Chandravati, wifes o, pottor, accom. plishod tho feat. The king wis enraged to fifd so many women unchaste ; he ordered them to be killed together with their husbands, sons and brothers, threo Aotis in allt 'Tifis action is landed by some, but such magsacro should be condemned. That tho peoplo did not rebel against thejr king and kill him, was because the gods defended him. However he did some virtuoug acts ; ho set up the god Mibiveshvarn, named after him, in Shriuegara, and found- ed a great city in Iola called Mihirapura after his name. He also bestowed some villages on the Bréhmanas of Gandbéro, who were equally vicious with tho king. Those Bréhmanas woro so shameless os to cohabit with their gisters and the wives of their sons. Thoy were born of Mlechchhas. It isa wonder that such people over existed, They sold their wives as they did other articles, and their wives too wore shameless enough to live with others. Tho vainy season pleases the peacocks, ond a clear autumn pleases the Jansas; so he who gives, and they who receive, are of the samo temper. In his old age this tarror of the world became infirm, and suffered from many maladies, He therefore cansed a fire to,bo kindled, and voluntarily entered into the fame, “And ot the time of his Jleath he heard hoavenly voice proclaimed that even the king who killed three kotis of mon entored heaven, for ho was cruel to his own porgon. .Eines oF KAsuufna, aL Some say that )is sins were palliated hy his gifs of Villages. ‘Bhéy say that when these Bréhmanag of Darad who were born of Mlcchchhas, and who sold their wives, spread themselves in the country, the king established many good rites and extended the Kingdom of the Aryas and performed Lard tape, and at last gave his hody to the flames. He gavo thousands of villages in Vijnyosh- vara to the Bréhmanas of Géndhgra, Thus died the king falling into tho {re which kindled on swords, rasors &a, aud thus he expiated bis sius. Ho reigned for seventy years, Aftor his death tho citizens raised his son Vaka, a very good prince, to the throno, At first they were mistrustful of him as they wero of his father, but in course of time thoy liked him, and welcomed his reign after that of his predecessor, as one welcomes the rains after summer. Virtue returned, as if, from another world, and safety from exile in the forest ; and peace and security were re-established in the kingdom. Ho founded a city name. Lavanotsn. At last, Vatté, a female devotee, came to the king one night in the shape of a beautiful woman, and with enticing words persuaded him to be present at # religious festive’ et her place, There the king went, but instead of witnessing a festival, he with his many sons and grandsons wore all sacrificed except one sén, A stong, marked with the impression of har knees, as sho knelt to sacrifice the king, is still to be seen; and this horrid tale is even now related in the monasterios at22 Binds or KAsuMina, Khjra. This king reignod for sixty-throo years ond thirteen days. . The surviving prince Kshitinando thon ‘Toigned for thirty years. Yasunanda, his son, thon asconded the throne, and veigned for fifty-two yonrs and two months. This prince was the originator of the science of love. ‘ He was succeoded by his son Nara IT, who roignod for sixty years, And he was succeeded by his son Akshe who also reigned for sixty years. He built a holy plnoe called after his name Akshavéla. He wns succeeded by his son Gopnditya. His reign was like Satya Yuga. Ie bestowed the villages of Sakhelakhégikéhé:{, Skandapura and Shaméogadimukha on Bréhmanas, and some other villages on the Bréhmanos of Dravira, Ho oxpolled from his country several irvoligious Brélimanas who used to cat garlic, brought othors of the caste from foreign countries and induced them to settle in Vishchike &c.. He set up a god named Jeshteshvara, He never pardoned the slaughter of animals except for religious purposes, He died after a reign of sixty years and six days. Tis son Gokarns then succeeded him, and eet up a god Gokarifa after his name, and reigned for fifty-seven years and cleven months, He was succeeded by his son Narendréditya otherwiso called Khingkhila, Ho set up god named Bhutesvara,muss or Kdsituina, 23 and a goddoss Akshyinf. Lis religious instructor Ugra fet up anothof god Ugresha, and ten goddesses who wore called Matri Chakra, After a reign of thirly-six yeare and a hundred days, this virtuous king died, Tis son named Yudhishthira then ascended the throne ; he was callod the blind on account of the smallness of his eyos. Ilo bogan his rule over his ancestral kingdom with great caro, and maintained the ancient lows of the country. But after a short time, he became excecd- ingly vain of his royal affluence, took into his favor igno- vant and unworthy persons, and became indifforent to the wise sorvants of the state. In distributing favors, he made uo distinction between fools and the wise, and the lattor therofore kept themselves away from his court in disgust, To seo all alike is virtue in a hermit, but is a fault inaking, The Brébmanas who wore his fiatterers soon got ascendancy over him, and mado him o mere pup- pet, His gaity and lightuess with these Bré:manas became dangerous to men, and his favor uncertain and feoting ; for he would abuse those in thoir absence, whom in their presence ho favored, aud so ho bocame an object of hatred to men, In short ho endangered the stability of his throne," Htsministers rebelled, and got the army under their command. They also made allianco with the neighbouring kings, who, encouraged by their offer, and hoping to get possession of Kdabmira, kept themaolres as watchful as vultures. The king knew not how to act, nor could avy means be devised to keep the kingdomat minus or KAsnvina, safe, TIe at first triod to reconcile his yobellious ministors, but in vain. For the ministors foaved thfiteshould thé king find himsolf again firmly seated on his throno, ho would kill thom; thoir robellion was openly proclaimed, ana they could not recode. Tho ministers with thoir army now laid siege to the palace, sounding thoir trumpots, and clouding tho top of the palaco with the bauncrs which waved over wioir elophants, Tho king ab last enmg to terms. Io agreed to retire from the city, Ashe issued out of his palace with his seraglio aud tronsure, and passed tho dusty streets, the people wept to see his altored condition, The besiegers, however, robbed him of some of his women and riches, Whon weary of walking among tho rocks, ho would sit undor tho shadow of a troo, and thon he would again set out again, to beguilo his griof hy iravel- ling. Sometimes ho would be awakoned from his sleep, hy the noise of his oncmy at. distance, and might bo Been creeping into some fountain cavern to hide himeclt, Often weary of penctrating through woods, or crossing the stroams, his tender queens would faint away. Some tines they would tui their backs and sco tho kingdom they once enjoyed, and would weopetnd strike their heads with their palms, and mingle their tears with the waters of the fonntains, Sometimes from tho top of o mountain they would look on the fair realm of Késhmfra, once their home, and bids last farewell. Evon the birds wopt to soc thom do thi. At last somo noighbouringKINGS OF KAsHMins, 25 king felt pity for Yudhisthira, took him under his pro- fection, and consoled him for his misfortuues. . Here ond the firat book of Rajataranginf by Kohlana, son of Champaka prabhu, the great minister of Kishmira. There reigned* thirty-eight kings for a period of 1015 years 8 months and 9 days. * Tn another place it is stated that only twenty-one kings reigned during the above-mentioned period, 7( 26 ) BOOK Il. [Ivvooatton to Monjpuva ap Pinvarf as onz.] Yopaisataina in his old age relinquished all hopes of regaining his kingdom, and much humbled, abandoned all enjoyments. But others maintain that he was confined by his ministers in fort Agaliké as he was attempting to get back his kingdom, “After deposing Yudhishthira the ministgrs coronated one Pratépaditya, a relative of Vikraméditya, king of some distant country. Some writers erroneously believe, that this was Vikraméditya [of Oujin], the enemy of Saka, The kingdom was torn by internal discord and was for some time governed by Harsha and other kings. Pratép- aditya ruled well and died after a reign of thirty-two years. He was succeeded by his son Jalauka, This prince derived his glory from his father, and reigned with equal glory for the same period os his father, it was like.the full moon which succeeds the sun when days and nights are equal, Him succeeded his son Tungjfna, who shaved the admi- nistration with his queen, This king“and queen graced the warld as the Ganges and the Crescent beautify the haiv of shiva, They governed well the country inhabit- ed by people of the several castes aud beautiful as the bow of Indra borne on two clouds. They built a city