Rajatarangini of Kalhana:Kings of Kashmira/Appendix F
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Being A Translation of the Sanskrit Work
Rajatarangini of Kalhana Pandita
By Jogesh Chunder Dutt
1887
London: Trubner & Co.Selection of spot for construction of the new city
[p.x]: The selection of the spot for the construction of the new city is thus narrated : —
One night the king set out in order to ascertain the best place and time to build his city. The stars were reflected on the jewels of his crown, and looked like mustard kept for charming away evil spirits. He then saw on the banks of a river the trees lighted up by the light of the burning dead ; and on the other side of the river he saw a gigantic Rakshasa with hands uplifted and making a hedious yell. The fiery glance of the Rakshasa fell on him which made him turn pale ; while the being filled the air with yells, and laughing aloud, said " If you and Vikramaditya and Shudraka be excepted, patience exists not in this earth. I will O king ! fulfill your desire, so cross the bridge and come over to my side." So saying he stretched his leg and made a bridge of it over the river. Seeing the bridge made of his limb, the king drew out his knife, and having cut out some flesh he made something like steps. The place where he crossed is still called Kshurikavala. When the king had gone over to the other side, the Rakshasa advised him to build the city where in the morning the king would see a thread spread by him, and then diaappeared. In the village of Shaitaka the seat of Yaksha Atta and the goddess Sharika, the king found the thread left by the Rakshasa .