Chapter LI - Description of sindhu’s dominions

Vasishtha said:—

1. [Sanskrit available]
The loud cry that the king was killed in battle by the rival monarch, struck the people with awe, and filled the realm with dismay.

2. [Sanskrit available]
Carts loaded with utensils and household articles, were driving through the streets; and women with their loud wailings, were running away amidst the impassable paths of the city.

3. [Sanskrit available]
The weeping damsels that were flying for fear, were ravished on the way by their captors; and the inhabitants were in danger of being plundered of their properties by one another.

4. [Sanskrit available]
The joyous shouts of the soldiers in the enemy's camp, resounded with the roarings of loose elephants and neighings of horses, trampling down the men to death on their way.

5. [Sanskrit available]
The doors of the royal treasury were broken open by the brave brigands, the valves flew off and the vaults re-echoed to the strokes. The warders were overpowered by numbers, and countless treasures were plundered and carried away.

6. [Sanskrit available]
Bandits ripped off the bellies of the royal dames in the palace, and the chandala free-booters hunted about the royal apartments.

7. [Sanskrit available]
The hungry rabble robbed the provisions from the royal stores; and the soldiers were snatching the jewels of the weeping children trodden down under their feet.

8. [Sanskrit available]
Young and beautiful maidens were dragged by their hair from the seraglio, and the rich gems that fell from the hands of the robbers, glistened all along the way.

9. [Sanskrit available]
The chiefs assembled with ardour with their troops of horses, elephants and war-chariots, and announced the installation of Sindhu by his minister.

10. [Sanskrit available]
Chief engineers were employed in making the decorations of the city and its halls, and the balconies were filled by the royal party attending at the inauguration.

11. [Sanskrit available]
It was then that the coronation of Sindhu's son, took place amidst the loud acclamations of victory; and titles and dignities, were conferred upon the noblemen on the victor's side.

12. [Sanskrit available]
The royal party were flying for life into the villages, where they were pursued by the victorious soldiers; and a general pillage spread in every town and village throughout the realm.

13. [Sanskrit available]
Gangs of robbers thronged about, and blocked the passages for pillage and plunder; and a thick mist darkened the light of the day for want of the magnanimous Viduratha.

14. [Sanskrit available]
The loud lamentations of the friends of the dead, and the bitter cries of the dying, mixed with the clamour raised by the driving cars, elephants and horses, thickened in the air as a solid body of sound (pindagrahya).

15. [Sanskrit available]
Loud trumpets proclaimed the victory of Sindhu in every city, and announced his sole sovereignty all over the earth.

16. [Sanskrit available]
The high-shouldered Sindhu entered the capital as a second Manu (Noah), for re-peopling it after the all-devastating flood of war was over.

17. [Sanskrit available]
Then the tribute of the country poured into the city of Sindhu from all sides; and these loaded on horses and elephants, resembled the rich cargoes borne by ships to the sea.

18. [Sanskrit available]
The new king issued forthwith his circulars and royal edicts to all sides, struck coins in his own name, and placed his ministers as commissioners in all provinces.

19. [Sanskrit available]
His iron-rod was felt in all districts and cities like the inexorable rod of Yama, and it overawed the living with fear of instant death.

20. [Sanskrit available]
All insurrections and tumults in the realm, soon subsided to rest under his reign; as the flying dust of the earth and the falling leaves of trees, fall to the ground upon subsidence of a tempest.

21. [Sanskrit available]
The whole country on all sides was pacified to rest, like the perturbed sea of milk after it had been churned by the Mandara mountain.

22. [Sanskrit available]
Then there blew the gentle breeze of Malaya, unfurling the locks of the lotus-faced damsels of Sindhu's realm, and wafting the liquid fragrance of their bodies around, and driving away the unwholesome air (of the carnage).