________________
Ixy!
PARISISTAPARVAN
walls in sight of the enemy, who, however, thinking the whole tlung an imposture designed to frighten them, reneted their attacks (105–115) Kalpaka proposed to the enemy to meet their prime minister on a boat on the Ganges When both boats were at a little distance, Kalpaka holding up part of a sugarcane, cut off the joints at its bottom and top, asking by gestures his opponent what would become of the sugarcane 2 The latter was, of course, unable to guess Kalpaka's meaning which was this as the sugarcane grows at both its joints (sandhe), thus the Ksattriya thrive by either true or sham treaties (sandhr) The enemy, however, could not make a true treaty with Nanda, nor could they deceive him into a sham treaty Therefore they would have no chance of success, but must perish in the contest Kalpaka then pointed out to his opponent an Abhira girl, carrying on her head a pot of sour thick milk which was smashed by a stick His meaning was, that just as the milk was spilled, the army of the enemy would be scattered by him At last Kalpaka bad hus boat rowed round and round the other to indicate that the enemy would be beaten on all sides, and then left huis puzzled opponent The latter returning to his party was obliged to confess that he could not make out the meaning of Kalpaka's strange behaviour The enemy, being thus convinced that the formidable minister was again at the head of affairs, fled in a panic leaving behind all their train Under the allministration of Kalpaka, Nanda regained bus power and severely punished Kalpaka's enemy (116–138)
CANTO THE EIGHTH Seven descendants of Nanda succeeded each other Their ministers were the descendants of Kalpaka, for Kalpaka had new offspring after the loss of his sons which has been related above The minister of the ninth Nanda was also a descendant
1 Cf the symbolic action of Tarquinius Superbus when Soxtus sont a messenger to him from Gabı (TAWNEY )
