The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c23.s4.20

v4.c23.s4.20

The city starved. The Talaings sent monks asking for terms, and their king offered to become Alaungpaya’s vassal. Alaungpaya replied that they had nothing to fear, for—it is the ambition of every great Buddhist king to become a Buddha—he was a divine incarnation; and he gave the envoys two bunches of orchids, saying one was for offering, the other for adornment. The Talaings breathed more freely. They offered one to the Shwemawdaw pagoda, the other they twined in the tresses of their king's daughter, as for the bride of Alaungpaya. But she was beloved of Talaban, the soul of the defence; he was furious and, finding his advice, to sally forth and die like men, rejected, he collected his family and with some best troops broke through the Burmese lines and maintained himself at Sittaung in Thaton district. The trembling king sent his daughter to Alaungpaya's camp, borne in a gorgeous palanquin, and surrounded by a bevy of handmaidens and princes. After kneeling some time in homage, she was conducted into Alaungpaya's harem. Many of the Talaing captains and troops came to pay homage, and lived in Alaungpaya's camp, for they believed him.