Rajatarangini of Kalhana:Kings of Kashmira/Appendix L
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Being A Translation of the Sanskrit Work
Rajatarangini of Kalhana Pandita
By Jogesh Chunder Dutt
1887
London: Trubner & Co.The discovery of the copper ore
[p.xvii]: The discovery of the copper ore is thus related :— One day the king saw in a vision a heavenly person who told him " I am Mahapadma, king of the Nagas. I am happy in your friendship and live in your kingdom, and now I come to ask you for protection. A charmer from Dravira wants to capture me and sell me to the people of a desert where they age hankering after water. If you can protect me from him, I shall show you a hill where gold can be found." The king heard those words in dream, and caused the charmer to be brought and asked him his purpose, assuring him at the same time of his safety. The charmer confessed to him all that the king had Beard in his dream, whereupon the king wondered, and again asked him as to how he could take out the serpent from the lake Which expended over several yojanas. "O ! king ! " replied the charmer, " the powers of magic are beyond thought, and if you want to see it, come quickly." The king thon followed him to tho lake which the magician dried up by his arrow discharged with spells. The king then saw in the mud, surrounded by numerous other serpents, a snake having the face of man, and a span in length. " I have shortened him by my spells," said the charmer, " and I capture him now." But the king forbade him to capture the king of the snakes. The magician obeyed the king, and made the lake full of water as it was before. The king dismissed the Dravarian with gifts of money, and wondered the serpent did not show him the promised hill where gold was to be found. When he thought thus, the serpent appeared to him in a dream, and asked him, For what benefit shall I show you the golden mount? It is through the chance of birth that one country is our native land, and another foreign, there is no real difference between them. For fear of humiliation I asked your protection, but you subjected me to that humiliation. What is more humiliating than to be insulted before those whom I protect? How shall I see the faces of my females who found me unable to save them from the power of another? You and myself are born of the same source, but for your pastime we were insulted. Those who are blind with their prosperity and heedless in their action, think that they have done great favors in whatever they do.
[p.xviii]: Kings deem it but play to insult others, but those who are insulted, think themselves as dead as long as they breathe. Kings slight the honor of other people when it comes in contact with their interest, but great men try to preserve their honor even at the sacrifice of life. How can they understand what houor is, who insult the proud. Still however your expectations from me will not be altogether disappointed, for I shall show you the hill where there is copper ore." Thou he nave such directions in dream as enabled the king, when he rose in the morning, to discover the hill with copper ore.