CHAPTER XLVI. GÁDHI’S LOSS OF HIS VISIONARY KINGDOM.
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Valmiki and Mitra, Viharilala
40. As adverse fate brought on this direful change on the devoted city; its horrified inhabitants remained in mute amazement; as on the last doom of nature.
41. Gavala, the Chandála prince, whose mind was purified and whose manners were refined in the society of the great men of the palace; witnessed the sad catastrophe of the state, and mourned in himself with a pensive heart.
42. It is all owing to me, said he, that all this woe has befallen on this state; and that time has brought on the untimely dissolution of the doomsday; both on this realm and the royal family and its ministerial officers.
43. What is the good of this miserable life of mine? My death is a blessing to me than living in this wretched state. It is better for the mean and base to die away, than live to be reviled by others.
44. Thus resolved, Gavala prepared a pile for himself, and made an offering of his body in the burning furnace, like the poor moth dropping on fire, without betraying a sigh.
45. As Gavala cast his body (nick named as Gavala) amidst the flame, and was pulling his limbs singed by the fire; their violent motion and his painful emotion, roused the dreaming Gádhi from his reverie amidst the water.
46. Válmíki said:—As the sage was saying these things, the day departed with the setting sun to its evening devotion; the congregation broke with mutual salutations, for the performance of their evening ablutions, and assembled again with the rising sun after dispersion of the gloom of night.