________________
THE PRITHIRAJA RASAU.
SEPT. 6, 1872.]
Devi. The right wing was led by Chaurang the hero, a victorious warrior of the Chauhân race, the left wing by the hero Birang Deva. The feet of the eagle were formed by Anang Rajathe tail by the Kurambh Jai, conqueror in many fights.
[The armies joined, a cloud of dust arose, the earth shook, banners and standards waved, drums and trumpets sounded.] The battle raged, the arrows darkened the sun, the dagger (jamdad) plied its trade, the Chauhân was the victor, the enemy fled. When the army of Narsingh fled, the Rathor having drunk liquor (varnní) came on; he drove back Viram and Ripusal Vaghela. Vijaypâl then attacked Somes, who was supported by the princes of the Moon-race and Anang-pál. The Sindhu-râg sounded like the thunder of the Pralaya. Anang-pâl repulsed the Kamdhaj; but retreating a hundred paces he came on again. Som advanced against him, he struck him down with his sword, giving him many wounds.† One thousand and five fell in the Kamdhaj army. Bijay Raja fled shamefully, leaving horses and elephants, [the bards utter the cry of "victory, victory!"] Someswar acquired great fame in Dilli city from repulsing the powerful Kamdhaj. Bijaya Raj returned home. Anang Pål Tuar gave his daughter to Someévar with much gold, horses, elephants, maidservants, necklaces of pearls. The king went to Ajmer, forming a strict alliance with him. Adorning his elephants, he, returned home sounding the instruments of victory. He made presents to his relations. Old and young sang songs of the Chauhân's fame. The women, with faces like the moon, were looking at him from the windows. They praised his fame.
I now tell how the Chahuvân Râi conquered territory; how Anang Râja made him his heir at Dilli. [Then will I tell of the descendants of the Chahuvân], how they took forts impregnable, raising their fame in the world; how they destroyed a Mlechha army, many times binding the Shâh and releasing him; how he defeated the Kamdhaj; how he disturbed the sacrifice, and took away Sanyogîtâ; how the king protected Abu, and destroyed the power of the Châlukthe lord of Paṭṭan; how he defeated the lionlike Parihar and married his daughter; how he grazed the fort of Devagiri with the hoof of his
Jamdad, the dagger Jambia,-Yama-dant or jama dath Yama's tooth. The preceding five sentences are a very brief summary.
281
horse; how he married the daughter of the Jadav lord of Rinthambh, and protected his country; how many wild Bhills fled from Mewâr :such an avatar of Isvara never was or will be.
Som Râja in Ajmer and Anang Tuar in Dilli lived in great happiness. Anang had two danghters but no son; one he married to the Kamdhaj, one to the Chauhân; he was the restorer of the race of Mânik Rai, Anangpâl married his daughters-one to Bijay Pâl, another to Somes, one was named Sarsundarî, the other Kamaládevi.§ After a certain time, Someśvara's wife became pregnant, she gave birth to Prithiraja of the Dânava race of Kshatris. Someśvara made many gifts. The destruction of Kanauj, Gazni, and Paṭṭau, began to be proclaimed. The day Prithiraja was born, Anang Pâl sent for a Vyas named Jagjyoti. He enquired the signs of the auspicious moment; placed flowers, pán, and incense before him. He said 'this is as it were an avatara of Sri Krishna in the Kaliyuga, to slay the lord of horses like Kans' [Kavi Chand says for the safety of Dilli this incomparable avatara was born]. In his delight, Anangpâla presented many gifts and caused songs of joy to be sung
at his house.
The mother of Jaychand of Kanauj, hearing that her sister had a son, sent congratulations (vadhámani). Jayachand presented robes of honour (pehrámani) to the Brahmans; Some var too presented gifts (vadhamani) with joy. In the year of Vikrama 1115 (A. D. 1058) Prithiraja was born. The long-armed Somesvar, from the virtues of his former birth, attained a son Prithiraja. He gave, as congratulatory presents, a thousand horses and a village with gold. He gave dresses of honour also to his relations. The drums sounded aloud. When the King beheld the face of his son he felt that he had attained the reward of his virtues in a former birth. Calling for a Brahman, he caused the jatkarm to be performed as described in the Vedas. With dance and song he caused his janmotri to be made. It was predicted that he would be a great Raja, would reign forty years in Dilli, and in the Panjab, in Indraprestha, and Sambhar; that he would often conquer the Sajai lord and release him.
Anangpâl felt anxiety hearing that he was to reign at Delhi.
Prithiraja learns all martial exercises, to read
§ Ten lines omitted.
Twenty lines omitted. Very much compressed.
Perhaps 1215 or A. D. 1158.-ED.
