पृष्ठम्:मथुराविजयम्.djvu/१७

6 men dowlt once; the viamana (dome of the central shrine) of Srirangam is so dilapidated that now it is the hood of Adisesha alone that is protecting the image of Ranganatha from the falling debris. The lord of Gajaranya (Tiruvanaikka, Jambu. kesvaram near Srirangam), who once killed an elephant to obtain its skin for his garment, has now again been reduced to the same condition, because he has been stripped bare of all clo. thing; while the garbhagriha (central shrine) of many an other temple is crumbling, its mandapas overgrown with vegetation and its ponderous wooden doors eaten up by white antsp In the temples which once resounded with the joyous music of the mridanga (a kind of drum), there is heard at present only the howl of the jackals that have made them their abode. The river Kaveri, that was curbed by proper dams and flowed in regular channels, has begun to breach in all directions. In the agraharas where the smoke was seen to curl up from the fire offerings (yagadhuma), we have now the offensive-smelling smoke issuing from the roasting of flesh by the Muhammadans, and the sonorous chant of the Vedas has been replaced by the harsh voice of these ruffians. The beautiful cocoanut tre s which once graced the gardens surrounding the city os Madura, have been cut down by these intruders, and in place of these, we have gruesome substitutes in the form of iron sula. which are adorned with garlands of decapitated human heads strung together. The water of the river Tamraparui, which used to be rendered white by the sandal paste rubbed away from the breasts of youthful maidens at their bath, is now flowing red with the blood of cows slaughtered by these great sinners." Thus did the strange lady describe to Kam- pana, the fate that had overtaken the fair south, and drawing out from her girdle a resplendent sword, addressed the king once again as follows: "O Sovereign ! Once upon a time the divine Visvakarma, gathering the splinters from the weapons of all the Devas and smelting them together, shaped this strange sword and presented it to Paramesvara for gaining victory over the daityas. By performing a severe penance, one of the Paadya king obtained it from Lol Part. With