'HISTORY OF CASHM1R. 71 



kingdom, Sambhu Veedhana had marched to oppose him with the troops 

 in his interest, and the capital of Cashmir, being thus left without defenders, 

 fell an easy prey to the invader: the approach of Chacra Verma appears 

 to have reunited the two brothers, as we find them both present in a furi- 

 ous conflict fought near Padmapur between their forces, and the Ddmaras 

 under Chacra Verma, in which the latter obtained a most decisive victo- 

 ry : five or six thousand of the Tatris were slain, Sancara Verdhana 

 graced the bed of heroes, and Sambhtj Verdhana attempting to reassem- 

 ble the scattered fugitives of his army, was shortly afterwards taken prison- 

 er and put to death : the power of the Tatris appears to have been complete- 

 ly broken by their defeat, as although mention of them does recur in the 

 bourse of the history, no important part in the revolutions of the crown, is 

 henceforward assigned to them. 



Chacra Verma returned to the capital in triumph : mounted on a superb 

 charger, in the centre of his victorious cavalry, holding in his left hand his 

 helmet, and touching his turban in courtesy to the crowd with his right, he 

 entered the city, amidst the clamour of kettle drums and the shouts of the 

 multitude; he soon however forfeited his popularity ; being fascinated by 

 the attractions of two daughters of a Dombha* who, as public singers, ap- 

 peared before the king, he took them into his haram, and devoted his 

 whole time to their impure society; the consequences were obvious ; he in- 

 curred the reprehension of the wise and respectable, and what was of more 

 importance to him, by promoting the low connexions of his favorites, above 

 his former ministers of the military and sacerdotal orders, he roused their in- 

 dignation and resentment. 



Amongst those who felt aggrieved by the preference thus shewn to an 

 out-cast tribe, the Ddmaras were particularly distinguished. They who had 

 been the chief instruments of the king's triumph, were now neglected with 

 the rest of his adherents, and compelled to make way for those, whose birth 

 and services gave them no claim to pre-eminence. They felt the neglect of 



* A man of the lowest class, by whom all impure offices are performed. 



