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g^4 Bajendralala Mitra — An Imperial Assemblage [No. 3, 



always mimical to the Pandavas, and waged a protracted war in defence 

 of his rights. But his efforts were of no avail, and he was ultimately- 

 made to negociate for peace by the payment of a heavy indemnity. Bengal 

 and its numerous petty chiefs next attracted the attention of Bhima, and 

 they were all overpowered and obliged to enrich the conqueror with large 

 contributions of gold, silver, jewels, sandal-wood, agallochum, wool, and rich 



stuffs. 



The army of the South, under Sahadeva, first overpowered the king of 

 Mathura, and then, proceeding through the northern parts of country now 

 owned by Sindhia, in which it encountered and subjugated many hostile 

 chiefs came to the country of Kuntibhoja. This aged monarch was the 

 foster-father of Kunti, the mother of the three elder Pandavas ; he welcomed 

 the general with every mark of consideration, and readily entered into the scheme 

 of his eldest grandson to assume the imperial title. He gave much wealth 

 and valuable assistance in pushing on the expedition with success. Crossing 

 the Chambal, Sahadeva came face to face with the heir of Jambhaka, an 

 old enemy of Krishna. What the name of the prince was or of his country, 

 is not given, but the prince was powerful and fought with great courage. 

 He was, however, ultimately overpowered, and made to render homage and 

 to pay an indemnity. The Narmadda was next crossed, and Sahadeva, 

 in his victorious march, successively made a lot of petty princes to acknow- 

 ledge his supremacy, until he reached the Pandyan kingdom which held him 

 at bay for a time. Kishkinda proved even more troublesome, and a treaty 

 of amity and friendship was all that could be extorted from it. Beyond 

 Kishkinda was the country of Mahisamati (probably Mysore) which was 

 owned by a chief of great valour, who was especially favoured by the god 

 Agni, who had seduced a daughter of the king, and afterwards married her, 

 and promised protection to his father-in-law. Sahadeva and his army were 

 no match for this mighty chief, and Agni so befriended his protege by rain- 

 ing fire on every side that the assailants were well nigh overpowered. At 

 this juncture Sahadeva sought the protection of Agni, and through his inter- 

 vention effected a treaty of peace and friendship. The story of Agni affords 

 an instance of the use of fire-arms in ancient times, and also a hint about 

 the Nair custom of women not living under the protection of their husbands, 

 but of cavaliers of their own choice ; for in order to wipe off the stigma on 

 the character of the princess, Agni, says the story, had ordained that women 

 in Mahisamati should ever after lead a wanton life in public (Avaraniya) 

 independently of their husbands. 



Proceeding further south from Mahisamati, Sahadeva subjugated 

 several petty chiefs, as also several one-eyed, one-legged, or otherwise de- 

 formed races, described in the orthodox style of traveller's stories, and thence, 

 through ambassadors, secured the allegiance of Dravida, Sarabhipattanam, 



Wt 



