No. 44. — 1893.] epic of parakrama. 



69 



entertained the nephew well, but meanwhile communicated 

 with the uncle. Parakrama, perceiving this duplicity, at once 

 had the general put to death — an act calculated to convince 

 Gaja Bahu that he was disaffected towards his uncle, and to 

 commit his own men to his cause, — but one which could 

 not, without a good deal of explanation, be divested of the 

 appearance of rebellion. After this it became necessary for 

 the prince to lead for a time a life not far removed from that of 

 an outlaw ; and this gave him of course the best opportunities 

 for winning the hearts of his men. He astonished them by 

 displays of courage such as the following : — 



When be had dwelt there some days, the inhabitants of the pro- 

 vince gathered from every side, thinking " We will capture this prince," 

 and pouring in great excitement incessant showers of arrows, they 

 surrounded the village and opened fight with ardour. The soldiers 

 who had come in the prince's train, professing that they would lay 

 down their lives in case of need, were now distracted with fear ; and 

 except the men who bore the prince's state canopy and his sword they 

 all fled hither and thither, in the very sight of the royal youth. When 

 he saw his comrades thus flying, he smiled quietly, and seeing here an 

 opportunity to display courage at its height, " With my weapon alone," 

 thought he, U I will terrify and put to flight the foe." " Bring me a sword !"' 

 cried the prince with a sudden shout, and at that strong deep utterance 

 of his, forthwith his soldiers, as they heard the sound of the trumpet- 

 shell of victory spread through the circuit of the regions, saw the heads 

 of some of the enemies' warriors fall severed to the ground. Then 

 those who before were fleeing stopped and turned, and fought and 

 routed that force of many thousands ; then they gathered round the 

 prince with homage, and praised the heroic deed that he alone had 

 done. 



He entered with zeal into field sports, and took part in 

 boyish games even in the midst of danger, as the following 

 passage indicates : — 



So all full armed these mighty ones, like the host of Mara, set forth in 

 fury along the road which the spies pointed out. At all the four quarters 

 they entered the village and on every side surrounded the prince's 

 house. The prince, clad in a red blanket on account of the extreme 

 cold, was sitting playing at a game such as young men love. Made 

 aware by the loud noise that the foe was close at hand, and seeing not 

 one of his own attendants at that moment, he tightened the knot of 

 hair upon his head, and clad as he was with the blanket, wrapped it 

 very closely round him, and with sword in hand, in terrible guise, 



