2023-02-17 20:22:01 by ambuda-bot
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INTRODUCTION
greeted the ear, now sent out the musty odour of meat
and resounded with the war-cries of the drunken
marauders.21
22
The groves of Madhurai had all been destroyed.
The cocoanut trees had all been cut and in their places
were to be seen rows of iron spikes with human heads
sticking at the points. In the highways which were
charming with the sounds of anklets of beautiful
women, one heard the ear-piercing noise of the Brah-
mins being dragged, bound in iron-fetters.
Webs woven by spiders took the place of silk veils
with which the dolls adorning the outer-towers of the
city were once covered. Royal courtyards which were
once cool with the spraying of ice-cold sandal, now con-
tained only the tears of the afflicted Brahmins. The
waters of the Tāmraparni which were white with the
sandal paste washed from the breasts of charming
maidens were now flowing red with the blood of cows
slaughtered by the miscreants. Screechings of owls in
worn-out pleasure groves did not afflict one so much
as the voice of the parrots taught to speak Persian in
the houses of the foreigners.
"Vyāghrapuri (Chidambaram) has become in fact
the abode of the vyaghras (tigers)."
Earth was no longer the producer of wealth. Rains
failed. The god of Death took his undue toll of what
was left of the lives not destroyed by the invaders.
The Kaliyūga deserved the deepest congratulation; for
21. Madhurāvijayam, canto VIII.
22. Ibn Batuta also mentions this fact. Relevant passages from
his accounts have been quoted aiready. Cf. K. A. N. Sastri, Sources,
pp. 278-279.
greeted the ear, now sent out the musty odour of meat
and resounded with the war-cries of the drunken
marauders.21
22
The groves of Madhurai had all been destroyed.
The cocoanut trees had all been cut and in their places
were to be seen rows of iron spikes with human heads
sticking at the points. In the highways which were
charming with the sounds of anklets of beautiful
women, one heard the ear-piercing noise of the Brah-
mins being dragged, bound in iron-fetters.
Webs woven by spiders took the place of silk veils
with which the dolls adorning the outer-towers of the
city were once covered. Royal courtyards which were
once cool with the spraying of ice-cold sandal, now con-
tained only the tears of the afflicted Brahmins. The
waters of the Tāmraparni which were white with the
sandal paste washed from the breasts of charming
maidens were now flowing red with the blood of cows
slaughtered by the miscreants. Screechings of owls in
worn-out pleasure groves did not afflict one so much
as the voice of the parrots taught to speak Persian in
the houses of the foreigners.
"Vyāghrapuri (Chidambaram) has become in fact
the abode of the vyaghras (tigers)."
Earth was no longer the producer of wealth. Rains
failed. The god of Death took his undue toll of what
was left of the lives not destroyed by the invaders.
The Kaliyūga deserved the deepest congratulation; for
21. Madhurāvijayam, canto VIII.
22. Ibn Batuta also mentions this fact. Relevant passages from
his accounts have been quoted aiready. Cf. K. A. N. Sastri, Sources,
pp. 278-279.