CHAPTER XLV. GÁDHI REBORN AS A CHANDÁLA, AND MADE KING OVER THE KIR TRIBE.
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Valmiki and Mitra, Viharilala
40. His body being decorated with ornaments made of gems and gold, attracted all hearts unto him; as the mount Meru is attractive of all hearts, by the variegated clouds of evening shining upon it.
41. He was adorned by beauteous maids, with shoots of creeping plants; which gave him the appearance of the kalpa tree, entwined by its creepers.
42. Being thus anointed and decorated, he was attended to by all the royal family and subjects; as a shady and flowering tree, is resorted to by the travellers.
43. They all assembled and installed him on the throne, as the gods join together, to place Indra on the throne, after he is borne on the back of the Airávata elephant.
44. In this manner, was the Chandála made a king in the city of the Kirs; and he was as much overjoyed at his unexpected good fortune, as a raven is delighted to find a stout dead deer in the forest.
45. His feet were rubbed by the lotus-like hands of the Kiri queen, and his body daubed with odorous powder of frankincense, which gave it the brightening appearance of the evening with the crimson clouds.
46. He flaunted in the Kir city and in the midst of their women, as a lion struts in the company of lionesses in the flowery forest.
47. He now forgot his former pains and sorrows; and his person was as much cooled, as by wearing a necklace of pearls, dropped from the heads of elephants killed by lions. And he was as much delighted at the enjoyment of the luxuries in company with these good people, as a sun-burnt elephant is refreshed, in a lake full of water and forage.
48. He reigned here for sometime in his self-gotten kingdom, having extended his power and mandates on all sides; he ruled the state through the medium of the ministers, and was himself known by the name of Gávala throughout his dominions.