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Kathavate's introduction
him in valour, and risked his life in battles most freely. One night Lavaṇaprasada saw a strange dream, in which he saw that the gurdian deity of the kingdom of Paṭṭana came and threw a garland around his neck. The king immediately sent for his son and his religious preceptor, the poet, and asked the latter what the dream meant. He explained to him that it was an offer made to him by providence of the sovereignty of Gujarat, and that he should immediately set about to establish his sovereignty over the country, which was at that time divided by powerful men among themselves. As a preliminary step to this, the king proposed to appoint some able minister to govern the country he had conquered. No sooner did this idea suggest itself of the king than he thought of the two able brothers,. Vastupala and Tejahpala. They were sent for immediately, and, when they came, he explained to them how he wanted to re-establish the decaying power of Paṭṭana. He extolled their honesty and their abilities, and told them that a conqueror could never get peace of mind unless there be at the helm of administration really able and trustworthy men. He congratulated himself on having found two such able ministers, and them to take up the responsible duties. Vastupala then humbly expressed his joy at having been so fortunate as to be held in such high estimation by the king. He ventured, however, to state that hard times had come, when bad counsellors led proud kings by dangerous ways, till both came to grief. Further, he stated that if the king would promise to be just and to control his passions, and not to lend his ear to the insinuations of wicked persons-if he would promise to rescue the kingdom from the oppression of the wicked-then he would cheerfully obey his command. If he had other views in his mind, the proud minister said, he would bid him farewell. The king heard these words of the celebrated statesman. and put into his hands the minister's seal.1 The minister, having taken charge of his duties, went to Stambhatirtha, modern Khambayat, pronounced by Europeans as Cambay. He redressed many of the wrongs committed by previous governors. During his administration low people gave up earning money by base means; the wicked turned. pale; the righteous prospered. All honestly carried on their businesses in security. He put an end to piracy and stopped by constructing platforms, the promiscuous mingling of all castes in shops where whey of curds was sold. He was liberal in his gifts. Even those who had been long dead come under his obligation, because he repaired the public works left behind by them. He planted groves of trees, sunk wells, and made public parks, dug tanks, built a city, and erected innumerable other works of public utility. He made no difference of caste or creed, but treated all subjects equally. While peace was thus reigning all over the kingdom, Singhana, the king of the Dekkan, having heard of the prosperity of Gujarat, ordered his army to make a depredatory excursion into the province. The whole of the population was seized by consternation. The king's army though small, was strong, and the father and the son, Lavaṇaprasada and Viradhavala, dauntlessly went forth and met the enemy when he had advanced as far as Bhrigukatchha ( Bharucha or Broach). While these two warriors were thus engaged, four kings from Marwad seized the opportunity and advanced against them. Indeed, the condition of the father and
1 It appears from one of the Prabandha that Tejahpala remained at the court, and Vastupala went to Khambayat as a governor. 2 This is the meaning I attach to स्पृष्टास्पृष्टनिषेधाय विधायावधिवेदिकाम् । पुरेस्मिन्वारितस्तेन तकविक्रयविप्लवः ॥
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