Madhurāvijayam of Gaṅgādevī /157

"
 
C
 
MAsacred learning; hidden is refinement; hushed is the
voice of Dharma; destroyed is discipline, and discounted
is nobility of birth.
 
HURAVIJAaving thus narrated the sickening career of
the YAM
 
sacred learning; hidden is refinement; hushed is the
avoice of Dharma; destroyed is disciplineanas, and discounted
is nobility of birth.
 
62
 
Having thus narrated the sickening career of
the Yavanas, she (the strange woman that appeared

before Kampaṇa) by her wonderful power of magic

caused a terrible-looking sword to appear.
 

 
The description of the sword presented to Kampanṇa. The

exhortation of the female Apparition to Kampana to rid
ṇa to rid
Madhurai of the Muslim rule.
 

 
In its shining silver sheath and handle, it looked like

a serpent that had recently sloughed. In its darkish

brilliance it resembled the agaru paste that one might

imagine on the person of Bhadrakaāli whose advent

marks the end of this universe. With the images of

burning lamps reflected in its surface, it looked like a

fresh cloud bright with lightening within it. This

sword, efficacious in drawing tears of sorrow from the

eyes of enemies' spouses, she placed before the king,

as if it were the personification of the Prosperity-God-

dess of Coōlas and Paāndyas and began to further address

him thus :
 

 
"Oh king, in olden times, this sword was made by

Viswakarma with the melted splinters of all divine

missiles, and he gave it as a present to God SŚiva for the

destruction of asuras."
 

 
"And that God gave it as a boon to the

Paāndya king, pleased with his severe austerities. And
his successors had it for a long time and were the

his successors had it for a long time and were the
unchallenged rulers of their earth.