2023-02-26 04:07:26 by ambuda-bot
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SUMMARY OF CONTENTS
5
the consequences. The ministers advised the king that the
suitable course to take under the circumstances would be to
retire into the Vindhya forests and bide their time. But the
brave king would not shirk an open fight and flee like a coward.
He pointed out that there was no safety in taking shelter in
a forest in as much as the enemy could pursue them in their
refuge. Finally it was decided that the king should meet the
enemy battle and that the ministers should repair to a hiding
place in the Vindhya forest along with his pregnant queen and
a select body of followers. There were ominous forebodings
portending danger to the country.
Then a Brahman
messenger of Mānasāra approached the king and said, "Your
Majesty, the Lord of the Malavas conveys his affection and
regard for you and asks me to intimate his desire to hear,
once again, the peal of thunder of your powerful arms in
battle and give up his body defiled by the dust of your feet."
"Be it so," replied Rajahamsa.
It will be a pleasure to me
to receive Mānasāra in battle. Tell him that we shall meet at
daybreak on the holy bank of Prayāg."
66
(Av. Sāra II. 38-68; Av. pp. 38-59)
Then the Magadha king ordered his general (Harşa) for
an immediate manoeuvre of the army.
To ward off unseen
evils he performed expiatory rites and emptied his treasury by
making gifts to Brahmans, and with their blessings he started
from the city and spent the rest of the day in camp inspecting
the four divisions of his huge forces arrayed for battle.
Next morning he mounted his favourite elephant Hemakūṭa and
set out with his army. [Manasāra had advanced with his forces
and was ready for fight]. The two armies clashed and a fierce
battle took place. The two warriors at first fought each
other seated on their elephants, then on horseback and lastly in
their chariots. Their fate was hanging on the balance for a long
while. Then Mānasāra flung the divine weapon at his enemy.
The sword had hit the Magadha king hard, made him senseless
and killed his charioteer before he broke it to pieces.
(Av. Sāra II. 69-86; Av. pp. 59-114)
When the sun set the bewildered horses turned away from
the battlefield and dragged their royal master day and night
through many a land. And as it happened they entered into
the thicket of the Vindhya forest where the ministers and
the queen were taking shelter and fell down and died from
exhaustion. When Rājahamsa regained consciousness,
5
the consequences. The ministers advised the king that the
suitable course to take under the circumstances would be to
retire into the Vindhya forests and bide their time. But the
brave king would not shirk an open fight and flee like a coward.
He pointed out that there was no safety in taking shelter in
a forest in as much as the enemy could pursue them in their
refuge. Finally it was decided that the king should meet the
enemy battle and that the ministers should repair to a hiding
place in the Vindhya forest along with his pregnant queen and
a select body of followers. There were ominous forebodings
portending danger to the country.
Then a Brahman
messenger of Mānasāra approached the king and said, "Your
Majesty, the Lord of the Malavas conveys his affection and
regard for you and asks me to intimate his desire to hear,
once again, the peal of thunder of your powerful arms in
battle and give up his body defiled by the dust of your feet."
"Be it so," replied Rajahamsa.
It will be a pleasure to me
to receive Mānasāra in battle. Tell him that we shall meet at
daybreak on the holy bank of Prayāg."
66
(Av. Sāra II. 38-68; Av. pp. 38-59)
Then the Magadha king ordered his general (Harşa) for
an immediate manoeuvre of the army.
To ward off unseen
evils he performed expiatory rites and emptied his treasury by
making gifts to Brahmans, and with their blessings he started
from the city and spent the rest of the day in camp inspecting
the four divisions of his huge forces arrayed for battle.
Next morning he mounted his favourite elephant Hemakūṭa and
set out with his army. [Manasāra had advanced with his forces
and was ready for fight]. The two armies clashed and a fierce
battle took place. The two warriors at first fought each
other seated on their elephants, then on horseback and lastly in
their chariots. Their fate was hanging on the balance for a long
while. Then Mānasāra flung the divine weapon at his enemy.
The sword had hit the Magadha king hard, made him senseless
and killed his charioteer before he broke it to pieces.
(Av. Sāra II. 69-86; Av. pp. 59-114)
When the sun set the bewildered horses turned away from
the battlefield and dragged their royal master day and night
through many a land. And as it happened they entered into
the thicket of the Vindhya forest where the ministers and
the queen were taking shelter and fell down and died from
exhaustion. When Rājahamsa regained consciousness,