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834
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[NOVEMBER, 1890.
and these are heaps of gold; these are fish-shaped earrings, set with gems, which sparkle now bright and now dark; those and these are female elephants of faultless shape; these are male elephants; these are tall banners; and these are the forehead-pieces of those who have lost their birthright :-(. 25) “Worthy to be ridden, are these one hundred elephants; if, to match them, another king can produce a single elephant, we shall wager our kingdoms;" thus each king spoke highly of his gifts, to please the emperor, and to secure his happiness. - (S. 26) The kings having all bowed at his feet, he was pleased to enquire whether there were any who had failed to pay tribute. - (3. 27) “The Kadakar have brought their tribute and bowed at your feet; but with them, the Chief of north Kalinga has twice failed to come," - 80 they said. - (S. 28) The kings trembled with fear as to what might happen ; and his bright coral lips assumed a smile, - we cannot say why, while his face seemed to frown slightly. - (S. 29) “Though he be a weak prince, my troops should march quickly, with the elephants at whose rut the bees swarm, and storm his bill-forts, and bring him hither : " - (S. 30) When the emperor issued these commands, the king of Vandainagara, who was born in the royal family according to the Vedas, bowed at his feet, and prayed that he might be allowed to invade the seven Kalingas. - (8.31) When the valiant Tondaimen eagerly asked for permission to trample the foes in that direction, he who had raised the tiger-(banner), granted the prayer; and thereupon, - (S. 32) The troops gathered like a deluge; and people wondered, whether such a large force was to churn the ocean, or to level the mountains, or to brenk the neck of the serpent of the flaming-bead, under the sea. (S. 33) The conch-shells bounded, the big drums thundered, and the reeds and pipes squeaked till the ears of the elephants, which guard the eight points, were deafened. - (S. 34) Rows of umbrellas and banners were unfurled, crowded so that the daylight was hidden and darkness ensued. -(8.35) But, in the fierce light of the blazing sun, the golden ornaments of the soldiers flashed, and the polished arms dazzled and shed a bright light. - (S. 36) “Had all the mountains of this world turned into elephants? Had all the winds become horses? Had all the clouds become chariots? And had the roaring oceans become warriors ?:- (S. 37) "Had the earth become small, that the army appears so large; or was the army so vast that the earth seemed to have shrunk in space ?" - (S. 42) There gathered warriors who had many & scar on their limhe, as lasting marks (of their valour), and held them as trophies and their sole wealth; who would not go back one step in fight), even if they could get the whole of this world and that of the gods thereby; who held their body as a burden, and sought to purchase glory by selling their life. — (S. 52) The troops ordered by the Abhaya, who wears on his round shoulders garlands of cool flowers, having come, the Chola general Karunakara mounted an elephant. - (S. 53) The king, who raised the banner of the bull which had been borne by the kings of Tondai, - he, the king of Vandai,- he, the king of the Pallavas, - mounted on the big elephant. - (S. 54) The king of the Pallavas, of Vandainagara, renowned for marching quickly, and way laying and defeating his foes, mounted an elephant, which was adorned with a plate on the forehead and had a rocking gait, and went forth like a tager in search of prey. - (S. 51) The oceanlike army marched, raising clouds of dust, starting with the dawn, and resting with the setting sun, and pursued its journey, without stopping a single day. - (S. 55) It crossed the Palar, the Kusaitalai, and the old river Ponmukari, and the swift Kolli, and went beyond the river Pennai. - (S. 56) It crossed the Vayalar, Manipulvái, Mannary, and the shining Kunri, and left behind the great river Krishna. - (S. 57) The Godavari, the Pampe river, and the Götamai, and their fords of sounding waters, were left bebind. - (8.58) When the army entered, like a vast ocean, even the gods trembled, and whole villages were set on fire, sacked, and ruined. - (S. 59) “The troops have come like an ocean, with the Ganga on one side ; where is refuge, where is defence ?; who is king here any more? - (S. 60) “The walls are falling, houses are blazing, and the smoke is rising; all that is fair is being wrecked, and we are ruined," - 80 they fled crying, "Help, help (lit. 'troope, troops")." - (8. 61) “Our king had failed to send the tribute which he ought to pay to the sovereign of this world, and hooded not his commands;
