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Lilavai-Kaha of Kouhala
below like a ripe fruit, with the stem in the form of rays snapped.
111
1171. Then, when the moon had set, when all the ten quarters were covered with pitchy darkness, when people were happily asleep and when it was mid-night (lit. when midnight came),
1172. that king of demons, puffed up with pride of his strength sent two demons as messengers to the king.
1173. They (came and) said, "King! We are sent as messengers, listen to our mission in details (and) to what he has sent as a message to you.
1174. (He says), "these two hours (lit. three-hour periods) of the last (part) of the night are to be enjoyed by me; whatever creature stays (or moves) here becomes my meal!
1175. So, make an offering to me of one hundred kings together with one hundred elephants and a thousand men, horses and cattle (each) if you wish to be safe (lit. wish for happiness)"
those messengers,
1176. Hearing that the king angrily replied to
"You go back as (my) messengers to that your master, 1177. (and) tell him, "Come, you friend! I will make an offering of your flesh to dogs and crows living around my camp". 1178. Lambasting (him) with these and many other words (like these) the angry king sent back both those demon-messen
gers.
the
1179. Then, after those demons had gone, the king ordered camp-commander (thus -) "Nobody should move out from the camp before morning.
1180. With one thousand brave princes our army shall move (or one thousand brave princes are enough for our army, acc. to com.). The army of those demons is reported to be ten thousand strong".
1181. Saying this, the king, accompanied by a thousand brave men went far from his camp towards the demons.
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