हम्मीर महाकाव्यम् (रणथम्भौर चौहान वीरगाथा एवं इतिहास)

7
work. Part of this will bear reproduction here in an English
dress:—
"Hail, Krishna Gachha, who gladdened the whole earth, the
beauty of whose person was like that of a blooming bunch of
the Navajâti flower, and whose praises were celebrated by
crowds of learned men, who might well be compared to so many
black humming bees,—he whose feet were ever borne on the
crowns of the followers of the Jain religion!
"In the circle of the Suris, whose actions are the homes of
wonders, in time, Jayasiṁha Sûri was born, who was the
crowning ornament of the wise, who easily vanquished in dispu-
tation S'âranga, who was the leading poet among those who
were able to write poetical compositions in six languages, and who
was honest among the most honest, who wrote three works—
(1) Nyâya Suratikâ, (2) A New Grammar, (3) A Poem on Kumâra
Nripati,—and who hence became known as the chief of those who
knew the three sciences of logic, grammar, and poesy.
"To the lotus like Gâdi of Jayasiṁha Nayachandra
is like the life giving sun, who is the essence of the knowledge
of the sciences, who is the exciting moon to the sea of the races
of the poets. This poet his spirits raised to the height of the
subject by a revelation imparted to him in a dream by the king
Hammîra himself, has composed this poem,¹ which is gratify-
ing to the assembly of the kings and in which the heroic (rasa)
is developed.
"The author in lineal descent is the grandson of Jayasiṁha
Sûri, the great poet, but in that of poesy his son.
"Let not good readers take into much account the faults of
expression that I may have fallen into. How can I, who am of
¹ Our poet also says that he was incited to the composition of this poem by a
rash assertion which some courtiers of king Tomara Vîrama had the presumption
to make in the presence of our poet that there existed no one now who could
compose a poem that would come up to the excellence of the works of old Sanskrit
poets. King Tomara Vîrama whoever he was appears to have lived seventy
years before Akbar.

8

mean capacity, escape stepping. into that path which even poets
like Kâlidâsa² were not able to avoid ? But a poem that is replete
with good matter loses none of its value for a few common-
places of expression."
The poem begins, as is usual with Saṅskṛit authors, with invo-
cations addressed to several deities, and the author has been at
the pains of making the invocations seem applicable to both the
Hindu gods and some of the Tîrthaṅkaras of the Jainas. This
procedure calls for remark. Nayachandra Sûri, as his
name implies, is a Jain by persuasion, and his seeming to invoke
blessings at the hands of the most prominent members of the
orthodox Hindu pantheon is to be explained either by the freedom
of thought so characteristic of the age in which the author lived,
when the narrow and bigoted intolerance even of the Muslîm had
begun to appreciate the beauties of the allegorical language of the
Hindu popular religion, or by the strong desire of writing dvayartha
('having two meanings') verses, with which the author seems
possessed.³

² Perhaps our author had in view the following lines of Dhanan-Jaya :—
अपशब्दशतं माघे भारवौ तु शतत्रयम् ।
कालिदासे न गण्यंते कवीरेको धनंजयः ॥
³ Probably everybody has heard of the Râghava Pâṇḍavîya Kâvya, every
line of which can be so construed as to apply to either Râma or the Pâṇḍavas,
at the option of the reader. I have recently been shown a Kâvya called the Sapta
Sandhâna Mahâkâvya, by Megha Vijaya Gaṇi, a learned Jain of recent times,
every verse of which can be made to apply alike to Râma, Kṛishṇa, and Jinendra.
In the present Kâvya the first śloka of the Nândî is addressed to the
Paramjyotis—'the divine flame,'—a manifestation of the divine being in whom
both Hindus and Jainas, especially the Kevali Jainas, believe. The second śloka
is addressed to Nâbhibhû, which may mean the Bramhâ of the Hindus, or the son
of Nâbhi (Ṛishabha Deva), the first Tîrthaṅkara of the Jainas. The third is
addressed to Śrî Pârśva, whom the Hindus may take for Vishṇu, the Jainas for Śrî
Pârśvanâtha, the 23rd Tîrthaṅkara. The 4th śloka is addressed to Śaṅkara
Vîravibhu, which may mean either Mahâdeva or Mahâvîra, the 24th Jain Tîrthaṅ-
kara. The fifth verse is addressed to Bhâsvân Saśânti, who may either stand
for the Sun, or Śânti, the 16th Jain Tîrthaṅkara. The sixth is addressed to
Samudra-Janman, which may be either the Moon, or Neminâth, son of Samudra,
the 22nd Jain Tîrthaṅkara.

9
The hero of the poem is Hammîra Chohân of Raṇaṣ-
thambhapura (Raṇathambhôr), a name celebrated in
Hindî song. Hammîra is one of those later heroes of India
who measured their swords with the Muhammadan conquerors
and fell in the defence of their independence. Even the history
of the conquered is not without interest. The man who fights
against hope,—fights because he thinks it his duty to do so,—who
scorns to bow his neck before the oppressor, because he thinks
such a course opposed to the ways of his ancient house, deserves
our sympathy and our admiration. Hammîra is such a
character. The poet places him on a par with Mândhâtâ,
Yudhishṭhira, and Râma. This is poetical exaggeration,
but we have no mean measure of praise in the following verses;
and the grounds of eminence mentioned are some of the proudest
that a Râjput can cherish, and a rigid maintenance of which
singles out the race of the Sisodyâs of Udayapur and the
Hârâs of Kotâ and Buńdi as the noblest among the
chivalry of Râjasthân:—
"सत्त्वैकदृप्तेः किल यस्य राज्यश्रियो विलासा अपि जीवितं च।
शकाय पुत्रीं शरणागताँश्चाऽप्रयच्छतः किं तृणमप्यऽभूवन् ॥"
Born in the noble house of the Chohâns, to whom, as Tod
observes, "the palm of bravery amongst the Râjput races must be
assigned," Hammîra tried to uphold the independence of his race
and to make its usages respected, and was for a time preëminently
successful in his wars against his enemies. Some of these were
undertaken to protect those who had sought refuge with him
(śaraṇa), and so far were disinterested. Indeed, he fell in a war
undertaken to protect a Mongol nobleman who had fled to him from
the tyranny of 'Alâ u'd-dîn. "In the third year of the reign of
'Alâu'd-dîn, a nobleman whom he had disgraced took refuge with
Hammira, the Chohân prince of Raṇathambhôr, one of the strongest
forts in India. 'Alâu'd-dîn demanded the delinquent of the
B

10
Hindu monarch, who nobly replied that the sun would sooner rise
in the west, and Sumeru be levelled with the earth, than he would
break his plighted faith to the unfortunate refugee. The siege of
Raṇathambhôr was immediately commenced, and the fort
was at length captured, but the heroic Hammîra fell in its defence;
and the females of his family, determining not to survive him,
perished on the funeral pile.” This history of Hammîra supplies
some information which the sentimental and enthusiastic annalist
of Râjasthân would have gladly interwoven into the pages of his
work, and which sheds fresh light on the eventful period in which
the hero lived.
The Hammîra Mahâkâvya is divided into fourteen cantos, of
which the first four are concerned with the hero’s ancestors,—the
Chohâns, many of whom were paramount lords of India. ‘The
empire belongs to the Chohân’ is an admitted Indian historical
fiction, and the mere mention of the names of the old kings, many
of whom were the lords paramount of India, accompanied as it
is with much poetical nonsense, carries our knowledge of them
a step further than the researches of Colonels Wilford and Tod.
The narrative is, all through, very uneven. The genealogy of
the Chohâns, as given in the first three chapters, though with
some more names than are to be found in Tod’s list, cannot be
regarded as satisfactory. The author really knew nothing about
the more ancient kings of the race; the names are simply brought
in to give him opportunities of displaying his power for poetical
conceits, and thus the accounts of the princes about whom he had
no historical information are filled with fanciful conceptions, in
which some of the natural phenomena are explained with admir-
able contempt of the teachings of the “proud philosophy” of
Nature. From Pṛithvirâja Chohân to the death of Ham-
mîra the narrative is fairly historic; but the author now and then,
even here, relapses into rhapsody which amounts to a confession
of his ignorance of the historical facts of the reign in hand.

11
Cantos V-VII of the poem are taken up, according to the
rules of Sanskrit epic poetry, with descriptions of the seasons, and
the sports and festivities in which Hammîra engaged. These
cantos, as not possessing any historical value, may be ignored in
this precis of the poem. I pass over a long lecture also on Nîti-
sâstra which Jaitrasingh, the father of Hammîra is made to deliver
to Hammîra. Chand gives a similar dissertation on grammar in
his Prithvîrâja Râsau.
With these introductory remarks, I come to the Pûrvaja
Varnanam, i. e., the account of the ancestry of Hammîra,
and, in order to give some faint idea of the author's style of writing,
I shall, in the following, attempt some sort of translation of the
first few reigns. The style throughout is so ornate, inflated and
redundant, and the tendency of the author to punning is so per-
sistent, that a longer translation is as difficult as the task would
be tedious :—
"Once upon a time, Brahmâ wandered in search of a holy
place where to hold a sacrifice. The lotus which he held in his
hand fell on the ground as if unable to bear the superior beauty
of the lotus-like palm of the god. The god from this circumstance
regarded the spot where the lotus fell as an auspicious one, and
there, freed from anxiety, commenced the sacrifice. Anticipating
persecution from the Dânavas, the god remembered the thousand-
rayed one (the Sun), when a being, his face surrounded by a halo of
radiance, came down from the orb of the sun. Him, the destroyer,
Brahmâ appointed to the work of protecting the sacrifice.
I "From that day the place where the lotus fell has been
called Pushkara and he who came down from the sun the
Chohân.* Having obtained the paramount power from the

• The 'Chaturbhuja Chohân as described by Tod issued like the other
  three progenitors of the Agnikulas—Parmâra Parihâra Châlukya—from the
  Agni Kunda the sacrificial fire fountain. But the genesis is described differently
  in different books. Perhaps where there is no truth we must not expect to find
  concord.

12
four-faced Creator, he ruled over the heads of the kings, as his
ancestor the sun rules over the heads of the mountains. Bali,
mortified at seeing the glory of his charity eclipsed by the greater
charity of this king, has hidden himself in the nether world;
for what else could a man afflicted with shame do? The moon,
taken to task by this prince for attempting to rival his glory,
every month hides himself, through fear, in the sun's disk, and
comes out as if desirous of propitiating the offended king by
presenting him with the brilliant orb. The fire of the king's
valour has so burnt the gardens of the fame of his enemies, that
the smoke issuing from the conflagration, ascending into the
atmosphere, has to this day left its mark in the blue sky. The
Ś e s h a n â g a, when he heard of the fame of this prince, was
tempted to nod approval, but, fearing that the earth resting on
his hoods might be thereby convulsed with pain, refrained from
giving way to the generous impulse. Angry that his son should
rival him in glory, the king deprived the ocean of his wealth of
gravity. Are not sometimes fathers made to suffer for the faults
of their sons? By the name of C h o h â n, this prince became
the shoot of the family tree, served by the poets; famous in the
three worlds; the bearer in abundance of human pearls. In this
family rose many a monarch surrounded by a halo of glory,
whose lives, beautified with the triple acquisition,⁵ are able to
destroy mountains of sins.
II. V â s u d e v a.—“In process of time D î k s h i t a V â s u d e v a
was born, who conquered the world by his valour; who seemed the
very incarnation of V â s u d e v a come down to this earth for the
destruction of the demon Ś a k â s. He whetted his sword, blunt
with striking down the heads of his enemies, in the fire of his
valour, and then cooled the steel in the water of the tears gushing
from the eyes of the wives of his enemies. The goddess of victory,
as if enamoured of this prince, shone in his hand in the battle-
⁵ Acquisition of artha (wealth), kâma (love), and moksha (salvation).

13

field in the disguise of his sword red with the blood of the necks
of his enemies that he had severed. In the field of battle, while
the martial bands were playing, and the gods in the heavens
viewing the performance, the king caused the goddess of victory
to dance in the guise of his quivering sword. Does not the
sun, surpassed by this prince in brilliancy, drown himself in the
deep, and—alas! for the pain of dying—come every day above the
waters in his struggles?"
III Naradeva.—' Vâsudeva begat Naradeva, fit to
be praised by Brahmâ himself, the delight of the eyes of women—
his body surpassing in beauty that of Cupid himself. When the
king went out into the world, the other chiefs, to protect their
possessions, did not take the sword out of its sheath, but only took
wealth from their coffers. In the battlefield his arms, bearing the
brilliant white sword, bore the beauties of the Eastern Mountain,
destroying the freshness of the lotuses of the faces of his enemies.
It is but natural that the fire of the king's valour should have
burnt down the forests of iniquity, but it is strange that the same
fire should have filled his enemies with cold shakings. Methinks
the sun, with his progeny, in token of submission, had fixed his
abode in the toe nails of this prince."
IV "Chandrarâja by his fame and the beauty of his
countenance, achieving a double conquest over the moon, vindi-
cated the appropriate significance of his name, which means
'Lord of the moon.' Strange was the power of the fire of his
valour, for it burnt bright in the enemy in whom the stream of
bravery flowed, while it was extinguished in that enemy who was
destitute of this stream,' &c.
The above paragraphs may suffice to show the style of fulsome
eulogy used by the poet in disposing of those princes of whom he
had no historical information to give. The same similes occur
again and again, and often the language is stiff and artificial.
I subjoin a list of the Chohân princes up to Hammîra as

14
given by our author, and below that given by Tod in his
Rájasthán :-
(1) Châhaman (Canto .I sh. 14-25).
(2) Vâsuḍeva (ib. 26-30).
(3) Naradeva (ib. 31-36).
(4) Chandrarâja (ib. 37-40).
(5) Jayapâla Chakri (ib. 41-52).
(6) Jayarâja (ib. 53-57).
(7) Sâmanta Simha (ib. 58-62).
(8) Guyaka (ib: 63-68).
(9) Nandan (ib. 67-71).
(10) Vapra Râja (ib. 72-81).
(11) Hari Râja (ib. 82-87).
(12) Simha Râja (ib. 88-102)—(killed Hetim, the Muhammadan
general, and captured four elephants in the battle).
(13) Bhîma (nephew of Simha, adopted by him) (Canto II. sh. 1-6)
(14) Vigraha Râja (killed Mûla Râja of Gujarât,⁶ and conquered
the country) (ib. 7-9).
(15) Gangadeva (ib. 10-15).
(16) Vallabha Râja (ib. 16-18).
(17) Râma (ib. 19-21).
(18) Châmunḍa Râja (killed Hejama'd-dîn) (ib. 22-24).
(19) Durlabha Râja (conquered Shahâbu'd-dîn) (ib. 26-28).
(20) Duśala (killed Karṇadeva⁷) (ib. 29-32).
(21) Viśvala (Visaldeva), killed Shahâbu'd-dîn (ib. 33-37).
(22) Prithvi Râja I. (ib. 38-40).

⁶ According to the Gujarâti chroniclers, Mûla Râja reigned from 998-1053 A.V.,
i. e. 55 years. Soon after his succession to the throne he was assailed by two
armies—that of the Sapâdalakshîya, Râja of Sakâmbharî (Sâmbhar), and that of
Bârapa, the general of Tailapa of Kaliyân : see Ind. Ant. vol. VI. p: 184.
Sapâdalakshîya might be a biruda of Vigraha Râja. [Bhagavânlâl Indraji
points out that Sapâdalaksa or Savâlakha is the name of the Sivâlik hills, and
that the early râjas of Kamaun called themselves Sapâdalakshanṛipatis; and
that the Sakâmbharî râjas may have originally come from that country.]
⁷ Is this Karnadeva the same with the Karnadeva of Gujarât, the fifth in
descent from Mûla Râja I. ? His date, as given by Dr. Bühler, is 1068-1093 A.D.
Duśala is sixth in descent from Vigraha, the enemy of Mûla Râja: see Ind.
Ant. vol. VI. p. 186.

15
(23) Alhana (ib. 41 44)
(24) Anala (dug a tank at Ajmer) (ib 45-51)
(25) Jagadeva (ib- 52 55)
(26) Visala (ib 56 59)
(27) Jayapâla (ib 60 62)
(28) Gangapâla (ib 63 66)
(29) Somesvara (married Karpurâ Devî, or, according to Tod,
Rukâdevi, daughter of Anangapâla Tunar of Dehli) (ib 67 74)
(30) Prithvî Râja II (Canto II sloka 75—Canto III sloka 72)
(31) Harî Râja (ib 91) (Canto III sloka 73—Canto IV sloka 19)
(32) Govinda of Ranathambhôr, father of—(Canto IV sloka 20—31)
(33) Bâlhana—had two sons—Prahlâda and Vâgbhata (Canto
IV sloka 32—40)
(34) Prahlada (son of Bâlhana) (41—71)
(35) Vîranârâyana (son of Prahlâda) (72—105)
(36) Vâgbhata (son of Bâlhana) (106—130)
(37) Jaitrasingh (son of Vâgbhata) (131—142)
(38) Hammîra (son of Jaitrasingh) (Canto IV 143—Canto XIII
sloka 225)
Genealogy of the Chohâns as given by Tod —
Anbala or Agnipâla (the first Chohân, probable period 650 before
Vikrama, when an invasion of the Turushkâs took place, established
Mâhâvatî Nagrî (Garha Mandla), conquered the Konkana, Aser,
Golkonda
Suvâcha
Mallana
Gulan Sûr
Ajanâla Chakravarthi (universal potentate, founder of Ajmer—
some authorities say in 202 of Vikrama, others of the Vîratah
Samvat, the latter is the most probable) *
Dola Râya (slain, and lost Ajmer, on the first irruption of the
Muhammadans, S 741, A D 685)
Mânikya Râya (founded Sâmbhar, hence the title of Sâmbhari Râo

• Wilford inserts here Sâmanta Deva, Mahâdeva Ajayasimha, Virasimha
  Vindasura, and Vasu Vibhata

16
borne by the Chohân princes his issue : slain by the Mosque invaders
under Abu'l Aâs).⁹
Harsharâja or Harihara Râi (defeated Naziru'd-dîn [qu. Subakte-
gin ?], thence styled 'Sulṭângrâha').
Bîr Bîllandeva, (Balianga Râi or Dharmagachha; slain defending
Ajmer against Mahmud of Ghazni).
Bisaldeva (classically Vîśaladêva); his period from various
inscriptions, S. 1066 to S. 1130.
Saraṅgadêva, his son (died in nonage).
Âna Deva (constructed the Ânâ Sâgar at Ajmer, which still bears
his name), his sons—
Jayapâla or Jayasiṁha (A.D. 977) father of—
Hursapâl (Hispâl of Ferishtah).
Ajaya Deva or Anandeva, son of Jayapâla (A.D. 1000); Bijyadeva
and Udayadeva were his brothers.
Someśvara, son of Ajaya Deva, married Rukâbâi, the daughter of
Anangapâla of Dehli. His brothers were Kanharâi and Jaitrasiṁha,
Goelwâl Kanharâi's son Îśvaradâs turned Muhammadan.
Pṛithvî Râja (A.D. 1176), son of Someśvara, obtained Dehli; slain
by Shahâbu'd-dîn, S. 1249, A.D. 1193.
Reṇasî (A.D. 1192), son of Pṛithvirâja, slain in the sack of Dehli.
Vijayarâja, son of Châhaḍadeva, the second son of Someśvara
(adopted successor to Pṛithvirâja; his name is on the pillar at
Dehli).
Lâkhansî, son of Vijayarâja, had twenty-one sons; seven of whom
were legitimate, the others illegitimate, and founders of mixed
tribes. From Lakhansî there were twenty-six generations to Nonad
Siṁha, the chief of Nîmrânâ (in Col. Tod's time), the nearest lineal
descendant of Ajayapâla and Pṛithvirâja).
As observed before, up to the time of Pṛithvirâja, the last
great Chohân, the poem is made up mostly of poetical bombast,
in which, at intervals, a grain of historical matter may be
⁹ Tod, Raj. vol. II. p. 444. Ten more names are given in Bombay Govern-
ment Selections, vol. III. p. 193; and Prinsep's Antiquities by Thomas, vol. II.
Us. Tab. p. 247.

17
found concealed under bushels of poetical chaff. It is therefore
useless to give a further analysis of this part of the poem. I
begin with Somes'vara, the father of Prithvî Râja.
After the death of Gangadeva, who was brave like Bhîshma
of old, Somes'vara became king. He was married to
Karpûrî Dêvî, who gave birth to a son as the east gives birth
to the cold rayed beautiful disk of the moon. This son was named
Prithvîrâja by the king his father. Day by day the child
throve, and grew up a strong and healthy boy. After he had
acquired proficiency in letters and arms, Somes'vara installed
him on the gadi, and himself retiring into the woods died in the
practice of the yoga. As the eastern mountain shines beautiful by
the rays that it receives from the author of day, so did Prith-
vîrâja shine in the royal insignia obtained from his father.
While Prithvîrâja was ruling over his subjects with justice,
and keeping his enemies in terror, Shahâbu-d-dîn was vigorously
trying to subjugate the earth. The kings of the West, suffering
greatly at his hands, chose Śrî Chandrarâja, son of Govin-
darâja, as their spokesman, and in a body came to Prithvî-
râja. After the customary presents had been offered, the suppliant
kings seated themselves in the presence of Prithvîrâja, who,
seeing the settled gloom of their countenances, asked the reason of
their sorrow. Chandrarâja replied to him that a Muhammad-
an named Shahabu'd dîn had arisen for the destruction of kings,
and that he had pillaged and burnt most of their cities, defiled
their women, and reduced them altogether to a miserable plight.
“Sire,” said he, “there is scarcely a mountain-pent valley in the
country but is filled to suffocation with Râjputs who have fled
thither for protection from his tyranny. A Râjput has but to
appear before him in arms, when at once he is transferred to
Yama’s gloomy realm. Methinks Shahâbu'd dîn is Para-
śurâma come down to this earth again for the extirpation of the
warrior caste. The people are so panic-stricken that they abstain
C

18

from rest, and, not knowing from what quarter he may appear,
circumspectly raise their eyes in every direction. The noblest
of the Râjput families have disappeared before him, and he has
now established his capital at Multân. The Râjas now come
to seek the protection of your Majesty against this unrelenting
enemy and his causeless persecution."
Pṛithvirâja was filled with anger when he heard this
account of the misdeeds of Shahâbu'd-dîn, his hand was raised to
his moustache by the vehemence of his feelings, and he declared
to the assembled princes that he would force this Shahâbu'd-dîn
to beg their pardon on his knees with his hands and feet heavily
manacled and fettered, else he were no true Chohân.
After some days, Pṛithvirâja, with an efficient army, set
out for Multân, and after several marches entered into the
enemy's country. Shahâbu'd-dîn, when he heard of the king's
approach, also advanced to encounter him. In the battle which
ensued, Pṛithvirâja took Shahâbu'd-dîn captive, and was
thus enabled to fulfil his vow: for he obliged the haughty
Muhammadan on his knees to ask forgiveness of the princes whom
he had despoiled. His vow now fulfilled, Pṛithvirâja gave
rich presents and gifts to the suppliant princes, and sent them to
their respective homes. He also allowed Shahâbu'd-dîn
to go to Multân, bestowing on him like gifts.
Shahâbu'd-dîn, though thus well treated, felt bitterly
mortified at the defeat he had sustained. Seven times after this
did he advance on Pṛithvirâja to avenge his defeat, each time
with greater preparations than before, but each time was signally
defeated by the Hindu monarch.
When Shahâbu'd-dîn saw that he could not conquer
Pṛithvirâja either by the force of his arms or by the
ingenuity of his stratagems and tactics, he communicated an
account of his successive defeats to the king of the Ghaṭaika¹⁰

¹⁰ Might not this be a name for the modern Kumbheri?

19
country and solicited his aid. Thus he obtained in the form of
many horses and men from the king's army. Thus reinforced,
Shahâbu'ddîn rapidly advanced upon Dehlî, which he at
once captured. The inhabitants were panic-stricken, and fled from
the city in every direction. Prithvîrâja was greatly surprised
at this, and said that this Shahabu'ddîn was acting like a
naughty child, for he had already been defeated several times by
him, and as often allowed to go unmolested to his capital.
Prithvîrâja, elated with his former victories over the enemy,
gathered the small force that was about him, and with this
handful of men advanced to meet the invader.
Slightly attended as the king was, Shahâbu'ddîn was greatly
terrified at the news of the approach of the king, for he remem-
bered too well the former defeats and humiliations sustained at
his hands. In the night, therefore, he sent some of his con-
fidential servants into the king's camp, and through them, with
promises of large sums of money, he seduced from their allegiance
the king's master of the horse and the royal musicians. He
then sent a large number of his Muhammadans secretly to the
enemy's camp, who entered it early in the morning, when the
moon in the west had scarcely reached the horizon, and the
sun was but beginning to illuminate the east.
All was now uproar and confusion in the king's camp. Some
cried out, "Oh, brave comrades! up and to your arms! Haste,
haste! the enemy has approached and taken us by surprise. Let
us fight and return conquerors to our homes or to heaven!"
While the king's followers were thus preparing to meet their
assailants, the disloyal master of the king's horse, as advised by
his seducers, saddled and brought forth as the king's charger
that day a horse styled Nâtyârambha ('leader of the dance'),
and the musicians, who were waiting their opportunity, when
the king had mounted, began to play upon their instruments
tunes that were the king's favourites. At this the royal steed

20
began to dance proudly, keeping time with the musicians. The
king was diverted with this performance for a time, and forgot
the all important business of the moment.
The Muhammadans took advantage of the king's indolence
and made a vigorous attack. The Râjputs, under the circum-
stances, could do little. Secing this, Pṛithvirâja alighted
from his horse and sat on the ground. With the sword in his
hand he cut down many Muhammadans. Meanwhile, a Muham-
madan taking the king unawares from behind, threw his bow
round his neck and drew the king prostrate to the ground, while
other Muhammadans bound him captive. From this time the
royal captive refused all food and rest.
Pṛithvirâja, before he set out to encounter Shahâbu'd-dîn,
had commanded Udayarâja to follow him to attack the enemy.
Udayarâja¹¹ reached the battlefield just about the time when
the Muhammadans had succeeded in taking Pṛithvirâja captive.
But Shahâbu'd-dîn, fearing the consequences of further
fighting with Udayarâja, retired into the city, taking with
him the captive monarch.
When Udayarâja heard of the captivity of Pṛithvirâja,
his heart throbbed heavily with pain. He wished himself in the
place of Pṛithvirâja. He was unwilling to return back
leaving the king to his fate. Such a course, he said, would be
detrimental to his fair name, in his own country of Gauṛadeśa.
He therefore laid siege to the city of the enemy (Yoginîpura
or Dehli, which Shahâbu'd-dîn had taken possession of
before this battle), and sat before the gates for a whole month,
fighting day and night.
One day during the siege, one of Shahâbu'd-dîn's people went
up to him and remarked that it would be becoming on his part
for once to release Pṛithvirâja, who had several times taken
¹¹ This must be the famous Udayâditya Puwâr of Mâlwâ, mentioned by Chanda
as the great friend and ally of Pṛithvirâja.

21

him captive and then dismissed him with honours. Shahâbu'd-
dîn was not pleased with this noble speaker, to whom he replied
sharply that councillors like him were the sure destroyers of
kingdoms. The angry Shahâbu'd dîn then ordered that Prith-
vîrâja should be taken into the fortress. When this order
was given, all the brave people hung their necks with shame,
and the righteous, unable to suppress the tears gathering in their
eyes, lifted them towards heaven. Prithvîrâja a few days
after this breathed his last and went to heaven.
When Udayarâja learnt of the death of his friend, he
thought that the best place of abode for him now was that only
whither his late friend had sped. He therefore gathered together
all his followers and led them into the thickest of the battle, and
there fell with his whole army, securing for himself and them
eternal happiness in heaven.
When Harirâja learnt the sad news of the death of Prith-
vîrâja, his sorrow knew no bounds. With tears gushing from
his eyes, he performed the funeral ceremonies for the deceased
monarch and then ascended the throne. He had not ruled long
when the king of Gujarât, in order to secure his favour, sent
to him some dancing women from his country as presents.¹²
These girls were exceedingly beautiful and highly accomplished,
and they drew to themselves the king's heart so much that all his
time was usually spent in their company, in listening to their
music and seeing their dancing. At last matters came to such a
pass that most of his revenues were squandered on musicians and
dancers, and nothing was left with which to pay the salaries of
the servants of the state, who naturally were disgusted with the
king and his manners. His subjects also were dissatisfied.

¹² Gujarât in ancient times was famous for the number and beauty of its
dancing girls. One of its kings was forced to give his daughter in marriage
to an ancient Persian king who took with him from the country 1200 dancing
girls. The professional dancing girls of Persia are said have been the descend-
ants of this stock! Vide As. Res. vol. IX., Bickram and Salibahan.

22
Apprised of these circumstances, Shahâbu'd-dîn thought
this a favourable opportunity for destroying Harirâja and his
power. He therefore marched his army into the country of
Harirâja. Ever since the death of Pṛithvirâja, Hari-
râja had vowed not to see even the face of the hated Muslim,
and he passed his time, as described, in the company of women.
He was therefore ill prepared to meet Shahâbu'd-dîn in the
battle-field. As a last resource, Harirâja determined to per-
form the 'sak.' He gathered together all the members of his
family, and ascended the funeral pile along with them, and so
went to the other world.
Harirâja had no son, and Shahâbu'd-dîn pressed his
followers hard. In the utmost confusion and misery, therefore,
they assembled in council to deliberate on the course they had
best adopt. They were now, they said, without a leader, while
their army was so disorganized that it could not look the enemy
in the face. Shahâbu'd-dîn was a great warrior and they were
weak. It was impossible that they should be able to protect
themselves and their capital. They therefore resolved to abandon
the country to its fate, and go and live under the protection of
Govindarâja, the grandson of Pṛithvirâja, who, having
been banished the kingdom by his father, had by his bravery
acquired a new kingdom and established his capital at Raṇa-
thambhôr. They accordingly gathered in all the remnants of
Harirâja's power and wealth and started for Raṇathambhôr.
Ajmer, vacated by Harirâja's party, was now pillaged and
burnt by Shahâbu'd-dîn, who took possession of the city.
The followers of Harirâja were well received by Govinda-
râja, and appointed to suitable offices in the kingdom.
Govindarâja was paralyzed at the sad news of the fall of
Ajmer, and the death of Harirâja, to whom he paid the last
rites. For some years after this Govindarâja ruled well and
justly. At last he died and went to heaven.

23
After Govindarája, Bálhana succeeded to the throne
Bálhana had two sons—Prahláda, the elder, and
Vágbhata, the younger. Being brought up and educated to
gether, there was between them very great brotherly affection
When they came of age, their father, who had grown old and
feeble, placed his elder son, Prahláda, upon the gádi and
appointed the younger, Vágbhata, to the post of prime mi-
nister The old king did not long survive this arrangement
Prahláda was a just king, and, as he ruled mildly, his
subjects were contented
One day, however, as fate would have it, he went out to the
forest to hunt The hunting party was a grand one There
were many dogs with them, and the party was dressed in fine
clothes Merrily they went that day over hill and dale and the
prey was unusually heavy Many a mighty lion was made to
bite the dust While the party was thus engaged, the king saw
a big lion lying at his ease in a patch of tall reed-grass, and,
being dexterous with his bow, aimed an arrow at the lion and
killed him The attendants of the king raised a shout of joy
at this feat of royal archery, which had the effect of rousing from
his slumbers another lion that was hard by, but of whose presence
they were not aware In an instant the brute rushed on the
king with the swiftness of lightning and seizing one of the
king's arms in his mouth tore it from the body This sad accident
put a stop to the sport, and the party bore the wounded monarch
home, where the effects of the poison of the animal's bite termi-
nated his life.
The death-bed of the king was an afflicting scene He placed
on the gádi his son Víranáráyana, and called to his presence
Vágbhata, his brother and minister, and said to him that the
three qualities of bravery, penetration, and circumspection were
the main stays of a monarch, but that these were acquisitions
to which people attained in their majority. Rarely were they

24

possessed by inexperienced youths. "My son," said he, "is yet
a child, and he knows only how to sleep and rise again to play.
Be thou, therefore, such a guide to him that he may not come to
ruin."
Vîranârâyaṇa from his very childhood was a naughty and
unmanageable boy, and Vâgbhaṭa, convinced of this, could
not find it in his heart to hold out the language of decided hope
to his dying and beloved brother. "My dear brother," said he,
as the tears rushed down his cheeks, "you know that no one is
able to avert what is to happen. As for myself, I will serve the
prince as faithfully and as diligently as ever I have served you."
Scarcely had Vâgbhaṭa finished his speech when the king
breathed his last.
When Vîranârâyaṇa came of age, a marriage was arranged
between him and the daughter of the Kachhavâha prince of Jaya-
pur, and he set out for Amarapur (Amber), the capital of
the Kachhavâha. On the way Vîranârâyaṇa and his party
were pursued by Jelâlu'd-dîn, and had to turn back to
Raṇathambhôr without being able to marry the Jayapurânî.
Here a great battle ensued, but neither party obtained the advan-
tage. Jelâlu'd-dîn saw that it would be difficult to conquer
Vîranârâyaṇa in the field, and therefore determined to
entrap him into his power by stratagem. For the present, there-
fore, he returned to his country; but after some days he sent a
very flattering message to Vîranârâyaṇa through one of his
most trusted servants. The messenger represented to Vîranâ-
râyaṇa that he and Jelâlu'd-dîn were the sun and moon in the
surrounding starry heaven of kings, and that his master, ex-
tremely pleased with the gallantry displayed by the prince in the
late war, sought his friendship. He also represented how good
it would be if they both lived in harmony and saw each other
frequently; how strong they both would be by this alliance,
which would be like the union of wind with fire, and which would

enable them to bear down all their many enemies. Jelâlu'd-
dîn, said the envoy, now looked upon Vîranârâyaṇa as
his brother, and called upon the Almighty to witness if there was
aught of deceit in his heart. The envoy concluded by inviting
the prince, in the name of his master, to be the guest of the
latter in his capital. "Should your Majesty have any objection,"
added the wily man, "to accept of Jelâlu'd-dîn's hospitality,
Jelâlu'd-dîn himself will come to Raṇathambhôr and pass a
few days with you."
At this time there was pending some feud between Vîranâ-
râyaṇa and Vigraha, king of Vakshasthalapura. Bent
upon chastising Vigraha, Vîranârâyaṇa gave a willing
ear to the ambassador, and resolved upon an alliance with
Jelâlu'd-dîn. Vâgbhaṭa disapproved of this alliance with
the wicked Muhammadans, sought an interview with Vîra-
nârâyaṇa and spoke against it. "An enemy," said he, "is
never changed to a friend, do what service you may to him;
and if you have any wish to live and govern the kingdom, you
must listen to the advice of your teachers and elders, and
avoid having aught to do with Jelâlu'd-dîn and the
Muslims."
Vîranârâyaṇa was incensed at his uncle's advice, and con-
temptuously asked him not to think of the cares of the state,
as they were now ill-suited to his old and weak mind; that he
himself was equal to the task of government, and henceforth
would do and act as best pleased him.
Vâgbhaṭa, stung to the quick by this answer, left the
palace and departed for Mâlwâ. Other courtiers, too, after
Vâgbhaṭa had left, tried to dissuade the king from going
to his enemy, but all failed. Vîranârâyaṇa at length went
to Yoginîpura. The wily Muslim came out to receive him, and
treated his guest apparently with the greatest respect. The
prince was delighted with his reception, and became much at-
D

26
tached to Jelâlu'd-dîn. After a few days' hospitality, however,
the prince was poisoned and died.
The joy of the Muhammadans at this event was excessive.
They exclaimed that now the whole tree was prostrate at their
feet, and they could help themselves to any part of it.
As the king was no more, and Vâgbhaṭa had left for
Mâlwâ, Raṇa thambhôr was without defenders, and easily
fell into the hands of the enemy. Once in possession of Raṇa-
thambhôr, Jelâlu'd-dîn sent a message to the king of
Mâlwâ to say that Vâgbhaṭa should be put to death.
The king of Mâlwâ, it appears, lent a willing ear to this
nefarious proposal, but Vâgbhaṭa discovered the secret. He
murdered the king of Mâlwâ, and possessing himself of his throne,
soon gathered round him many of the distressed Râjputs. Pos-
sessed thus at once of a country and an army, he made a league
with the Kharpûrâs,¹³ who were already in arms against the
Muhammadans. Vâgbhaṭa conducted the combined army
to Raṇathambhôr and reduced its Muslîm garrison to such a
plight that they vacated the fort. Thus Vâgbhaṭa and the
Râjputs once more became masters of Raṇathambhôr.
It was Vâgbhaṭa's policy to station large forces at different
posts along the frontier and thus to keep off his enemies. He
died after a happy reign of twelve years.
Vâgbhaṭa was succeeded by his son Jaitrasiṅgh. His
queen was named Hîrâ Dêvî, who was very beautiful, and in
every way qualified for her high position. In course of time,
Hîrâ Dêvî was found to be with child. Her cravings in this
condition presaged the proclivities and greatness of the burden
she bore. At times she was possessed with a desire to bathe
herself in the blood of the Muslîms. Her husband satisfied her
wishes, and at last, in an auspicious hour, she was delivered of a
· 13 Ferishta says "Khakars," a Mongol tribe, who also seem to have invaded
India at this time.