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Nirayaavalika-Upang-8- Chapter-1
readiness. Inform me when you do all this. The attendants did as instructed and informed the king accordingly.
King Kunik then entered his bathroom. After taking his bath, getting dressed and adorning himself with ornaments he came to the outer court. There he rode the great elephant.
Now King Kunik, with three thousand elephants, three thousand horses... and so on up to... marched with drum beats and sounds of a variety of musical instruments, crossed Champa city and joined the ten princes including Kaal Kumar where they had camped.
Surrounded by thirty three thousand elephants, thirty three thousand chariots, thirty three thousand horses and three hundred thirty million soldiers; with all his opulence King Kunik marched with drum beats and sounds of a variety of musical instruments. Resting at suitable places, taking his breakfast and meals at proper time, camping after covering limited stretches and without unduly extending the march, he passed through the Anga state and moved towards Vaishali, the capital of Videh state.
When King Chetak got the news of King Kunik's march, he invited the eighteen kings including nine heads of the Lichchhivi republics and nine of Mallaki republics of Kashi-Kaushal states for consultation. When they assembled he said"Beloved of gods! Without informing King Kunik prince Vehalla has come here with Sechanak elephant and the eighteen string necklace.
Kunik had sent emissaries three times to get Sechanak elephant and the eighteen string necklace. But I refused for a valid reason (King Shrenik had given Sechanak elephant and the eighteen string necklace to prince Vehalla during his life time. Therefore if King Kunik wants to take these two things he should give prince Vehalla half of his kingdom and state.) And sent back the emissaries. King Kunik did not accept my proposal and is marching here with his four pronged army to wage a war.
"Under the circumstances, Beloved of gods! should we return Sechanak elephant and the eighteen string necklace? Should we surrender prince Vehalla to him or fight a war?
The eighteen kings including nine heads of the Lichchhivi republics and nine of Mallaki republics of Kashi-Kaushal states said to King Chetak-"Lord! It is neither proper, nor opportune or suitable to the prestige of a king that we return Sechanak elephant and the eighteen string necklace or surrender prince Vehalla. Therefore, when King Kunik is marching here with his four pronged army to wage a war we will face him by fighting the war."
King Chetak said to the eighteen kings including nine heads of the Lichchhivi republics and nine of Mallaki republics of Kashi-Kaushal states-"Beloved of gods! If you are ready to fight a war with King Kunik, please return to your respective kingdoms and after due lustration by taking bath and performing other rituals... and so on up to... Arriving there they joined their palms and greeted him with hails of victory.
King Chetak called his attendants and instructed-"Beloved of gods! Prepare for me the best of elephants suitable for the use of a monarch... and so on...
(When the eighteen heads of republics arrived in Vaishali) King Chetak, like King Kunik, came out with three thousand elephants (etc.) and marching through Vaishali came where the eighteen kings including nine heads of the Lichchhivi republics and nine of Mallaki republics of Kashi-Kaushal states had camped.
Aagam - 19-Nirayaavalika
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Compiled by - Deepratnasagar