Megaváhan was renowned for his virtues and gave peace and security to Hindustán as far as the borders of the ocean. After the death of Rájá Hiran without issue, the chiefs of Kashmír paid allegiance to Rájá Bikramájít the ruler of Hindustán. Rájá Matrigupta was a learned Kashmíri Bráhman. Bikramájít profited by his wisdom but did not advance his temporal interests. He, however, gave him a sealed letter to convey to Kashmír and furnishing him with a small sum of money for his expenses as he started, despatched him on his mission. The Bráhman set out with a heavy heart. On his arrival in Kashmír, the letter was opened. It ran thus. ‘The bearer has rendered important services at my Court and has experienced many reverses of fortune. On the receipt of this letter, let the government of the country be entrusted to him, and be this mandate obeyed under fear of the royal displeasure.’ The chiefs met in council and yielded their submission.

Rájá Pravaraséna had withdrawn from the country and lived in retirement in Hindustán. A devout and enlightened servant of God pre­dicted to him the good tidings of his future elevation to a throne. On the faith of this, he went to Nagarkóṭ and possessed himself of that place. On hearing of the death of Bikramájít, Matrigupta abdicated and setting out for Benares lived in seclusion. Pravaraséna was universally distinguished for his justice and liberality. He founded Srinagar* the capital of the country and rendered it populous during his reign with 600,000 houses. With surpassing munificence he sent to Mátrigupta the aggregate of eleven years' revenue of Kashmír which that personage bestowed upon the indigent. Rájá Ranáditya was a just prince and made many conquests. In the neigh­bourhood of Kishtawár near the river Chenáb, he entered a cave with all his family and many of his courtiers, and was seen no more; many strange legends are related regarding him. Rájá Báláditya invaded Hindustán and extended his dominions to the borders of the sea.

In the reign of Rájá Chandrapíṛa the wife of a Bráhman appeared to him claiming justice, saying, that her husband had been killed and the murderer was undiscovered. He asked her if she suspected any one, to which she replied that her husband was of an amiable disposition and had no enemy, but that he often had disputations on points of philosophy with a certain person. This man was brought up but strenuously denied the accusation, and the complainant would not accept an ordeal by fire or water lest the man should employ some supernatural means of escaping it. The Rájá in his perplexity could neither eat nor sleep. An enlightened sage appearing to him in a vision taught him an incantation to be uttered over rice meal scattered about, upon which the suspected person was to walk. If the footsteps of two people were observed as he passed over it, he was not to be suffered to escape. Through this suggestion the truth was discovered and punishment duly meted out. But as a Bráhman could not be put to death, an iron image of a man without a head was made and his forehead branded therewith.

Rájá Lalitáditya devoted himself to the prosperity of his kingdom and in the strength of the divine aid overran Irán, Turán, Fárs, Hindustán, Khaṭa, and the whole habitable globe, and administered his dominions with justice. He died in the mountains of the north, and it is said that he was turned into stone by the curse of an ascetic, but others relate the story differently.

Rájá Jayápíṛa reached a lofty pitch of glory and his conquests were extensive. Ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine horses were bestowed by him in charity at Benares, and his gifts to the poor were on the same munificent scale. He asked of the elders whether the army of his grandfather Lalitáditya or his own were the larger. They answered that his contained but 80,000 litters, whereas 125,000 of such conveyances were arrayed under his grandfather's standard, by which proportion he might judge of the numerical strength of his other retinue. When he had pro­ceeded some distance on his march of conquest, his brother-in-law, Jajja, who was in Kashmír disputed the throne. The nobles of the king, in anxious fear for their wives and children, betrayed him and preferred their outward reputation before their true honour. The Rájá hastened alone to Bengal, and with the aid of troops from that country, repossessed himself of his kingdom, Jajja being slain in battle.

Rájá Lalitápíṛa took low companions into favour and associated with buffoons, and his wise councillors withdrew from the court. His minister finding remonstrance of no avail, retired from office.

Rájá Sankar Varmá conquered Gujarát and Sind, and overran the Deccan, but left it in the possession of its ruler. Although in the begin­ning of his reign he followed a virtuous course, he lacked perseverance. The intoxication of worldly prosperity plunged him into every vice.

During the reign of Rájá Jasaskardeva, a Bráhman lost a purse of a hundred gold mohurs. Under the impulse of violent grief he resolved to make away with himself. The thief hearing of this, asked him how much he would be satisfied to take, if he discovered the purse. The Bráhman answered, “Whatever you please.” The thief offered him ten mohurs. The Bráhman, sore at heart, appealed to the Rájá who inquired into the case, and sending for the thief ordered him to restore ninety mohurs, intending by this, that the amount the thief desired to keep for himself, should be the portion of the Bráhman.

In the reign of Sínhadeva, a Muḥammadan named Sháh Amir who traced his descent to Arjun the Pandava was in the royal service. About this time Dalju the chief commander under the king of Ḳandahár, attacked and plundered the kingdom. The Rájá took refuge in the mountain passes and levied forcible contributions on the people, and sent them to him and entreated him as a supplicant. The invader withdrew, dreading the severity of the weather, and many of his troops perished in the snow. About the same time also, Rinjan, the son of the ruler of Tibet invaded the country which was reduced to great distress. On the death of the Rájá, the sovereignty devolved on Rinjan who was distin­guished for his munificence. He appointed Sháh Mír his minister whose religion, through intimacy and association with him, he eventually adopted.

When Rájá Adindeva died, the aforesaid Sháh Mír by specious flat­tery and intriguing, married his widow. In the year 742, A. H. (1341-2,