The Life of Ballālasena 2.7

Once upon a time in former days, the lotus-eyed beloved wife of Ballāla / arrived at that great holy place to worship Śaṅkara,

bringing many articles of gold and silver: / a parasol for the god, ear-ornaments for the goddess,

a necklace, a bracelet, a diadem, a neck-ornament, / armlets, bangles, an excellent girdle, anklets, and the like,

costly garments, banners, flags, / sacred threads, perfumes, and various utensils.

She and the family priest worshipped the god and the goddess / with food-offerings, with those ornaments, and with the parasol, in supreme joy.

Having performed the worship, the queen departed, mounting an excellent horse-drawn carriage; / but the family priest remained there, desiring a share of the articles.

He, Baladeva, spoke to the venerable Dharmagiri: / “Reverend Sir, give me my share, what is due to me, without delay!”

Hearing those words of his, the superintendent of the shrine replied to him:
“We have never given a share to anyone whatsoever.

Therefore, I will not give [one] to you. Go, go! Return home!”
In this manner harsh words took place between the two for a short time.

Then Valadeva, enraged, cursed the chief of temple attendants:
“Fall down, you fool! No good will come to you!”

Hearing that, the chief of temple attendants, his face like a barbarian's in fury,
struck Valadeva on the cheek with a slap.

He commanded his burly disciples: “Let him be removed!”
Then those men carried out the command of their guru.
Then Valadeva went, weeping, into the presence of the king.

He related everything to the king just as it happened, from beginning to end,
and the Brahmins in attendance also supported his [account].

[Confirming] Valadeva's words, they said: “The [follower of] Giri must be punished!”
Having thus learned of the insult to his domestic priest,
the king blazed up with wrath, like a thatch with fire.

“Let Dharmagiri be banished from my realm along with his followers!”
Thus the king commanded the general Rudranāga.

A treasure of virtues, the sole friend of his kinsmen, [making] true the word of the foremost of Brahmins, the creator [of the sacrifice],
that lion among kings indeed drove him out from the realm along with his company.

Thus ends the seventh chapter, titled “The Banishment of the Temple Attendants,” in the Vallālacarita composed by Ānandabhaṭṭa.

Now begins the eighth chapter.