हम्मीर महाकाव्यम् (रणथम्भौर चौहान वीरगाथा एवं इतिहास)

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take place. There was such a thronging of elephants, horses,
chariots, and men that there was scarcely room for one to thrust
a grain of tila amidst the crowd. With this mighty concourse,
the two brothers, Nusrat Khân and Ulugh Khân, started
for the Raṇathambhôr country.
'Alâ'u'd-dîn with a small retinue stayed behind with the
object of inspiring the Râjputs with a dread of the reserves that
must have necessarily remained with him, their king.
The numbers in the army were so great that they drank up
all the water of the rivers on the line of march. It was therefore
found necessary not to halt the army longer than a few hours
in any one place. By forced marches, the two generals soon
reached the borders of the Raṇathambhôr territory—an
event which gave rise to conflicting sentiments in the minds of
the invaders. Those that had taken no part in the late war
said victory was now certain, as it was impossible the Râjputs
should be able to withstand such troops as they were. The
veterans of the last campaign, however, took a different view
of the matter, and asked their more hopeful comrades to remember
that they were about to encounter Hammîra's army, and that,
therefore, they should reserve their vaunting until the end of the
campaign.
When the pass was gained which was the scene of Ulugh
Khân's discomfiture and disgrace, he advised his brother not to
place too much confidence in their power alone, but, as the place
was a difficult one, and Hammîra's army both strong and
efficient, to try stratagem by sending some one on to the court of
Hammîra, there to try to while away some days in negotia-
tions about peace, while the army should safely cross the mountains
and take up a strategical position. Nusrat Khân yielded to
the superior experience of his brother, and Śri Molhaṇa
Deva was sent to propose the terms on which the Muhammadans
would conclude a peace with Hammîra. Pending negotiations,