________________
DECEMBER, 1902.)
THE SUKRITASAMKIRTANA OF ARISIMHA.
485
III. 37. Thereypon the king directed joyfully this gracious speech before the nobles to Lavanyaprasada :
38. Through thy father, the terror of his enemies, I was set up (as king) in this kingdom; do thou therefore increase my diminishing prosperity.
39. "Accept from me, thou great in war, the rank of a lord over all; Viradhavala, who shines in virtue, shall be my successor."
40. Thus requested by the king, himself worthy to be entreated in a matter in which they ought to have been the suppliants, the two spake joyfully : Your Majesty's command is law to us.'
41. Laying his hollow hands together as if he held in them the fluttering Butterfly (Fortuna), Viradhavala turned again towards the husband of the earth (and suid):
42. "Master, I am in need of an adviser; without one, the brave lion springs at the thunder-cloud, taking it for an elephant and suffers a great fall.
43. "Give me such a counsellor, distinguished by extraordinary virtues, acquainted with the use of weapons, with books, with the acquisition of wealth and with battle."
44. Greatly delighted by this speech, which was like a stream of nectar poured out to invigorate the liana-creeper) of his happiness, the master of the world thought a little and then said :
45. “Once upon a time was Chandapa, fiery in his splendour, a branch of the ever-fresh lians of fame of the distinguished Prågvata lineage, a servant (of the king) in this realm.
47. "His son, named Chandaprasada, was furnished with skill and affability, ... 49. “To him was born a son named Soma, who flooded the firmament with his glory, 50. "Who had no master but king Siddha and no god but the lord of the Jinas.
51. "His descendant Abvaraja made the universe splendid with his glory; he who accomplished seven pilgrimages to escape the seven hells.
53. His beloved wife was Kumaradevi, who, though the first among the Jina-believing (women), worshipped the husband of Gauri.
54. "To these two were born three sons, whose power made their enemies tremble...
55. "First among them, Malladeva is famous as a treasury of wisdom; he who obtained autocracy in his kingdom by the will of his preceptor.
56. "His younger brother is the wise Vastupala, a dwelling-place of the fine arts, whose feet the later-born Tejahpals daily worships.
57. "These two, like w&nds to whirl about the ocean of deeds, like paths leading to conjunction with Fortuna, I will give you for counsellors; but they protect their friends."
58. As Viradhavala rejoiced at this speech, the husband of the earth called to these two Bons of one mother, who bowed their heads, (and said): -
59. "May you, who alone have crossed the ocean of state affairs, be clothed with the dignity of counsellors of the great Viradhavala.
60. "His courage will attain to sight, if you serve him as eyes ; unceasingly vigilant may he trample down all my enemies.
61. "Yet more-may you two, who hang on the feet of the Jina-prince, like bees on a lotus, glorify the faith in the lord of the Jinas; this great wish of king Kumarapala, which be entrusted to me in a vision, must of necessity be fulfilled."
62. When the king had given these instructions, to which a good invisible god called out his approval - falsely taken for the echo from the vault of the audience chamber, - he gave over the two to the heroic Viradhavala."
If we compare this narrative with that given concerning these events by Somebvara in the Kirtikaumudi, a considerable difference, especially in the role allotted to Bhina II., is unmistakable. According to Someśvara's representation, the Gûrjararajalakshmi, tue Fortuna or protectress of the kings of Gujarât, appeared in a dream to Lavanaprasada, the Rag of
