add a rich slip of territory to their rule. And yet they will go on killing and capturing and adding region to region, till the Abode of Snow (Himalaya) confines them to the north, the Sindhu-naddi (Incus) to the west, and elsewhere the sea. Even in this, too, they will demean themselves as lords and masters, scarcely allowing poor Samudradevta[1] to rule his own waves.
Raja Vikram was in a silent mood, otherwise he would not have allowed such ill-omened discourse to pass uninterrupted. Then the Baital, who in vain had often paused to give the royal carrier a chance of asking him a curious question, continued his recital in a dissonant and dissatisfied tone of voice.
By my feet and your head,[2] O warrior king! it will fare badly in those days for the Rajas of Hindustan, when the red-coated men of Shaka[3] shall come amongst them. Listen to my words.
In the Vindhya Mountain there will be a city named Dharmapur, whose king will be called Mahabul. He will be a mighty warrior, well-skilled in the dhanur-veda (art of war),[4] and will always lead his own armies to the field. He will duly regard all the omens, such as a storm at the beginning of the march,
- ↑ The Indian Neptune.
- ↑ A highly insulting form of adjuration.
- ↑ The British Islands — according to Wilford.
- ↑ Literally the science (veda) of the bow (dhanush). This weapon, as everything amongst the Hindus, had a divine origin: it was of three kinds — the common bow, the pellet or stone bow, and the crossbow or catapult.
