Page:Kings of Kashmira Vol 1 (Rajatarangini of Kalhana).djvu/30

KINGS OF Kashmira. 21. Some say that his sins were palliated by his gift of villages. They say that when these Brahmanas of Darad who were born of Mlcchchhas, and who sold their wives, spread themselves in the country, the king established many good rites and extended the Kingdom of the Aryas and performed hard tapa, and at last gave his body to the flames. He gavo thousands of villages in Vijayesh- vara to the Brahmanas of Gandhara. Thus died the king falling into tho fire which kindled on swords, rasors &«,, and thus he expiated his sins. He reigned for seventy years. Aftor his death the citizens raised his son Vako, a very- good prince, to the throno. At first, they were mistrustful of him as they were of his father, but in course of time they liked him, aud welcomed his reign after that of his predecessor, as one welcomes the rains aftor summer. Virtue returned, as if, from another world, and safety from exile in the forest ; aud peace and security were re-established in tho kingdom. He founded a city named Lavauotsa. At last, Vatta, a female devotee, came to the king one night in the shape of a beautiful woman, and with enticing words persuaded him to be present at n religious festival at her place. There the king went, but instead of witnessing a festival, he with his many sons and grandsons were all sacrificed except one son. A stone marked with the impression of her knees, as she knelt to sacrifice the king, is still to be seen; and this horrid tale is even now related in tho monasteries at