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20. 5.)
27
Now again the month went by in course of time; the king enjoyed the pleasures of senses; and Agnis’arman followed practising grim penance. In the meanwhile, when the fast-breaking day came up, the king was in-- formed by his men who had come from the army, 'Sir, at the midnight, when the moon, the auspicious lamp of three worlds, the beloved of the bride Night, had set, and when your majesty's soldiers were confidently sleeping, the vigilent king Mānabhanga, seeing otherwise the destruction of his own country and resorting to a brave action, has with all his army made an attack and has defeated your army which was very careless; which was proud of its formidable exploits; which had entered the city protected by close guards; and which did not take any measures of protection. Now I await your majesry's authority.” On hearing this unbearable speech, the king ordered his servants; his eyes burnt red with the fire of anger; his lips unevenly throbbed; he beat the surface of the earth with his hands mercilessly; and his words faltered under the influence of anger. “ Give out soon the beatings of drums for march. Make ready the invincible [20] elephant-army; saddle up our cavalry uncontrolled with spirit; harness our chariots beautiful with canopies and flags; and order our foot-soldiers, with various weapons, to march." Then after the order of the king, the royal army began to throng about like a stormy day of rain, hearing the sounds of march-drums; the elephants appeared like hosts. of clouds; the flemingoes in the form of raised-up banners, chowries, umbrellas etc, hovered over it; it was.
