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5. YAŠASTILAKA AS A SOCIO POLITICAL RECORD
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both marked with the figure of a sword and four encircling lines. In Nītivākyāmrta (Chap. 13) Somadeva refers to these emblems as being present on letters from enemies. Now, the iron ball symbolized the invulnerability of the sender; the fourfold wrappings or the four encircling lines the four-limbed' army consisting of cavalry, infantry, elephants, and chariots; and the sword, of course, the threat of war. It was apparently usual to despatch such symbolic gifts as a prelude to warlike measures ; and that it was a very ancient custom, and not confined to India, is shown by the account of the gifts (a bird, a mouse, a frog and five arrows) sent by the Scythian kings to Darius under similar circumstances, as related by Herodotus, Book IV. 131.
Be that as it may, the Sandhivigrahin is convinced of the war-like intentions of the king of Pañcāla, and considers it useless to examine the insincere presents and the contents of the letter, which was only too likely to proclaim the enemy's glory. Accordingly he puts aside the letter and asks the envoy to deliver his message orally, at the same time thre. atening him with dire punishment for his unfriendly mission: the nose would be chopped off, the head shaved at random, Bilva fruits tied to the forelock, and a garland of potsherds hung round the neck; besides, he would have to ride a donkey. Controlling himself, the Sandhivigrahin admits that no wise man should be angry with an envoy who is bound to report facts. Then addressing the envoy, à Brāhmaṇa, the royal official stresses the futility of further queries, and goes on to say: “The motives of your master are clear from your demeanour. The reason why His Majesty has so long connived at Acala, in spite of his having committed many an act of defiance, is that the kings of his line bad long paid homage in the past to His Majesty's forbears. But, now, if Acala seeks for himself the fate of a moth in the flames of His Majesty's might, it would be like desiring to play with the manes of a lion, or decorate oneself with the crest-gems of deadly serpents, or scratch with one's finger-nails the tusks of a rutting elephant, or extinguish with one's hands the fire of the epoch of universal destruction, or swim across the ocean, or traverse the sky with
1 The first interpretation is found in a marginal note in Ms. A. Somadeva says
प्राभृततन्त्रमेतत् पत्रं च प्राहिणोत् । तथाह्यनयोर्मण्डलानमुद्राङ्कितो वेष्टनचतुष्टयानेष्टङ्कितश्च बहि:प्रकाशः सनिवेशः। p. 550. Ms. A says anato erat: at: fela: TIRE SERT aer: Estacafea: The सूचयति । प्राभृतस्य संनिवेशः वेष्टनचतुष्टयमिष्टं वस्त्रचतुष्टयेन वेष्टितः सैन्यभयं दर्शयतीति भावः । 'चत्वारि वेष्टनानि
खड्गमुद्रा च प्रतिपक्षलेखानाम्। 2 The anonymous commentary says तेषामुपरि चत्वारि वेष्टनानि बन्धनानि भवन्ति. 3 नासोदासनमार्गमुण्डनशिखामालूरबन्धक्रमः कण्ठे शीर्णशरावदामकलनं कात्रेयकारोहणम् । दूतान्यश्च न ते निकारपरुषः
15 maaf aftTETT a am facuaserati Maga II 3. 402.
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