Note 11 — Chapter CII

When Mṛigánkadatta had heard this from the young hermit, he took leave of him, and went quickly, with his companions, in the direction indicated by him, and in course of time he arrived in the environs of Karabhagríva that stronghold of the king of the Mátangas, which were crowded with Bhilla villages. And within them he beheld near at hand on every side crowds of Śavaras, adorned with peacocks’ feathers and elephants’ teeth, clothed in tigers’ skins, and living on the flesh of deer. When Mṛigánkadatta saw those Bhillas, he said to his ministers, “See! these men live a wild forest life like animals, and yet, strange to say, they recognise Durgapiśácha as their king. There is no race in the world without a king; I do believe the gods introduced this magical name among men in their alarm, fearing that otherwise the strong would devour the weak, as great fishes eat the little.”11 And while he was saying this, and trying to find the path that led to the stronghold Karabhagríva, the scouts of Máyávaṭu, the king of the Śavaras, who had already arrived there, recognized him, having seen him before. They immediately went and told that Máyávaṭu of his arrival; and he with his army went to meet him. And when that king of the Pulindas came near, and saw the prince, he alighted from his horse, and ran forward, and fell at his feet. And he embraced the prince, who asked after his health, and then mounted him and his ministers on horses, and brought them to his own camp. And that king of the Śavaras sent his own warder to inform the king of the Mátangas of the prince’s arrival.