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APRIL, 1875.]
THE DVAIASHARAYA.
names of you both, which according to the jyo- will Bhim a imprison, or slay, or fight with; tishyasástra is very fortunate." to himself will he subdue certain lands and seas. This Bhima will practise science extensively, and the people who are of Nástika (atheistical) opinions, or who reckon that neither good nor evil arises from religion or irreligion, will he utterly destroy."
Then Durlabha Devi threw on the Râja's neck the varmálá that she held in her hand. Then were all the other kings enraged at Durlabha Raja. The Brahmans now advancing performed, according to the Sastra rules, the marriage ceremony. Mahendra Raja gave horses, &c. with much wealth, to the Châluky a as peheramani. Afterwards Mahendra Raja married his younger sister to Nâga Raja, the younger brother of Durlabha. With their brides, Durlabha Raja and Naga the Kunvar. On his neck the Kunwar wore an Raja set off towards Pattan, Mahendra Raja attending them for many a kos.
Very dear was this Kuivar to Durlabha Râja: therefore he used to make him lie on his own couch, to give him mangoes and fruits to eat, and to play with him; the half of the revenues of his kingdom he used to spend on
The Rajas who had come in the hope of gaining Durlabha Devi in marriage had already taken the road, in order to fight with Durlabha Raja. They came prepared for battle. The armies of enemies rose up on all sides as fire in the forest; but Durlabha Raja was noways dismayed. Ashamed of fighting with these shameless ones,-instead of fighting with them, Darlabha at that time merely warded off their weapons. Some of the kings, however, Durlabha Raja smote with arrows. The Raja of Angades a gave up the fight and submitted to Durlabha Raja; the Mâ lw à Raja threw down his weapons; the Raja of Hundeśa fled away; the Mathura Raja went to call to his aid the Turks and mountaineers: the Raja of Andradeśa was wounded; the Vaidia Raja, the Kuru Raja, and the Kasi Raja, with others, fled with blackened faces. Thus gaining the victory, with great splendour Durlabha Raja entered Pattan.
The Eighth Sarga.
After this Durlabha's younger brother, Naga Raja, had a son named Bhima.* Mortals owe three debts,-First, Brahmakshana; second, Devakshana; third, Pitrikshana. Brahmakshana is paid by chastity and the cultivation of wisdom; Devakshan by the performance of fire-sacrifice; Pitrikshana by begetting a son:so is it written in the Karma Khanda. When therefore Bhima was born, on account of the debt to the Pitris having been paid, Durlabha Raja and Naga Raja joyfully held high festival at the court. At the time of the Kunvarji's birth a voice from the sky proclaimed-"Whatever Raja does not keep friends with this Bhima
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ornament of gold set with diamonds-very beautiful to behold. When the Kunwar grew up, he used to go to the chase, but he would only cut the horns and hoofs of the deer, not take their lives. He so learnt the pugilistic art that no pugilist was able to fight with him.
Once on a time Durlabha Raja said in great joy-"O Bhima! take you the management of this kingdom and fight with its enemies; I will now go to a place of pilgrimage and perform penances for the happiness of my soul." When the Kunvarji heard this, he answered with tears in his eyes" In your lifetime I will not consent to royalty; besides, you talk of performing penances, but the fruit of penance is royalty, which to the full extent you have obtained and may obtain,therefore there needs not to perform penance. And if perchance it be from desire of svarga that you wish to perform penance, know then that according to the Kshetra Dharma, by turning not back from the enemy you have gained the victory,-you will therefore without doubt obtain svarga: in this view too it is unnecessary to perform penance." Hearing these words the king replied,-"It is written in the Smritis that when a son becomes of age to manage royalty the father should resign to him the throne and go to perform penance; therefore now that I am grown old, I am not fit to retain royalty, but if Naga Râja will manage the kingdom, then too it is well." Naga Raja, hearing these words, said-" As when Yudhishthira went to perform penance, his younger brothers went with him, so I too, refusing royalty, will accompany you." Afterwards Durlabha Raja and Naga Rája, persuading Bhima, performed his installation. Then fell a rain
This is summarized in Ras Mala, vol. I. pp. 70, 71.
