This page has not been fully proofread.

MADHURAVIJAYA M
 
61
 
been cut and in their place are to be seen rows of iron
spikes with human skulls dangling at the points.
 
In the highways which were once charming
with the sounds of anklets of beautiful women, are now
heard ear-piercing noises of Brāhmins being dragged,
bound in iron-fetters.
 
Webs worn by spiders have since taken the
place of silk veils with which the dolls adorning the
outer-towers of the city were once covered. Royal
court-yards which were once cool with the spraying
of ice-cold sandal, now distress me, wet as they are with
the tears of Brāhmins taken as prisoners.
 
Screechings of owls in worn-out pleasure groves
do not afflict me so much as the voice of parrots
taught to speak Persian in the houses of Yavanas
(Turuşkas).
 
The waters of Tambraparni which were once
white with sandal paste rubbed away from the
breasts of charming girls are now flowing red with the
blood of cows slaughtered by the miscreants.
 
Earth is no longer the producer of wealth.
Nor does Indra give timely rains. The God of death
takes his undue toll of what are left lives of undestroyed
by the Yavanas.
 
I am very much distressed by looking at the
tearful faces of Drāvidas, their lips parched by hot
sighs, and their hair worn in utter disorder.
 
The Kali age deserves now deepest congratu-
lations for being at the zenith of its power; for, gone is