Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v2.c17.s1.33

v2.c17.s1.33

Foreigners, who personally interviewed the great ruler, have given us many details about the grandeur of his court and the number of his troops. But none has given such an admirable sketch of his character and person as Paes. It is worthwhile to take his words into account in our estimate of the greatest monarch southern India has ever seen. "This king," says Paes, "is of medium height, and of fair complexion and good figure, rather fat than thin; he has on his face signs of small-pox. He is the most feared and perfect king that could possibly be, cheerful of disposition and very merry; he is one that seeks to honour foreigners, and receives them kindly, asking about all their affairs whatever their condition may be. He is a great ruler and a man of much justice, but subject to sudden fits of rage, and this is his title—¹ Crisnarão Macacão, king of kings, lord of the greater lords of India, lord of the three seas and of the land.' He has this title because he is by rank a greater lord than any, by reason of what he possesses in (?) armies and territories, but it seems that he has (in fact) nothing compared to what a man like him ought to have, so gallant and perfect is he in all things."¹ Coming as this does from a foreigner who was ignorant of the ideas of Hindu Dharma, it confirms the fear, love and esteem in which the people held Kṛṣṇa Dēva Rāya the Great.