Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 5

Author(s): Hemchandracharya, Helen M Johnson
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra

Page 63

CHAPTER ONE
One day people living in the country at a distance came to Śrişena with loud lamentations and declared:
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"On the border of your territory there is a very rugged lofty mountain, Visalaśṛnga, marked with the river Candraśiśirā. A village-chief, Samaraketu, lives in a fortress on it and he robs us fearlessly. Protect us from him, lord. "
Intending to depart to kill him, the king had the drum sounded. Prince Sankha bowed to him and spoke with con
fidence:
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What is this disregard of yourself in the matter of a mere village-chief? An elephant would never kill a fly, nor a lion a hare. With your permission I shall capture him and bring him here, father. Give your commands. You yourself desist from marching, for that is a source of shame to you.
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Prince Sankha was at once dismissed by the king after hearing this speech, and he went with an army to the vicinity of the village. The village-chief, best of schemers, left the fortress empty and went into hiding somewhere, when he heard that the prince was coming. Prince Sankha, very shrewd, had one vassal enter the fortress-town with selected soldiers. He himself remained in hiding in a thicket with soldiers. The village-chief, always tricky, besieged the fortress. As he shouted, "Where are you going, sir prince?" the prince surrounded him with many soldiers.
The village-chief was attacked now by the king's soldiers on the walls of the fortress and now by the prince's soldiers, as he was placed between. Tying an axe on his neck,38 he went to the prince for protection and said: "You alone are a recompenser to me for deceitful counsels. Master, I will be your slave, like an evil spirit that has been subdued. Take everything of mine and receive me with favor. " Then the prince annexed all the loot that he had taken from any one whatever and took it himself as a fine from him.
The prince took the village-chief and turned back home.
38 474. A sign of submission.