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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
Waghoji's largesse. The neighbouring chieftains reproached the bards for going there, and the Jodhpur Rao also asked his bard why all the bards and poets went to ask alms at Kotrâ. The bard replied, "If poor people go there, what fault is that of mine ?" The Râo replied, "If you are my true bard, destroy the Kôtrâ Chief's honour in the sight of the bards and poets, and I will bestow on you much wealth and villages." The Jodhpur bard accordingly went to Kotrâ to ask alms. When he drew near, Waghoji Rathod advanced to meet him with great pomp, and begged him to allow him to allot him a residence. The bard replied that he suffered from heat, and would therefore prefer to alight in a garden. Waghoji was much distressed, as there was not a single garden in Kotrâ, and, as the water was a hundred cubits below the surface, it would be impossible to make one: he therefore, rather than not give the Bârot what he had asked, determined to commit suicide. Accordingly he said to the bard, "Remain here a few moments until I shall fetch you the key of the garden;" so saying, he entered his house, and told Bramha of his trouble, and seizing his sword was about to bury it in his heart. Bramhâ seized his hand and said, "There is no need to die: come let us give him a garden wherein to alight." So saying she took the sword from his hand and said, "Yoke the rath: I will make a garden like this." She then recited the following duho :
[APRIL, 1874.
people are aided by the gods. It will be impossible for me to dishonour them, and if I try to do so, it is I who will suffer: " he then accepted Waghoji's gifts and repeated the following duho in his praise:
दुही.
सुकी वाडी पालळे वळे नागर वेल वाघा हालो नाहीए घोडा बंधाउ केळ, The dry garden shall become moist, And the Nâgar Creeper shall grow there. Wagho, come to this garden,
And tie your horse to one of the plantain trees.
When the rath was yoked, Waghoji and Bramha seated themselves in it and went outside the village, and Bramha said to the bard, "Come, I will give you a garden wherein to alight." They then went on a little further, and Bramhâ earnestly besought Mâhâdeva to aid her, and requested him to make in that spot a garden equal to that of Idar. Mâhâdeva at once caused such a garden to appear there, and Bramhâ directed the bard to alight therein. The Bârot considered within himself, "These
कोटा सरे कोटडो घडां जेसलमेर राणीयो सरे भरमदे कुंवरां वाघ नरेश.
The chief of forts is Kotrâ, and of fortresses Jesalmir;
The chief of queens is Bharamade, and of princes Wâghâ, lord of men.
Another poet also then praised Wâghoji thus:दुही.
कीरतरो जामो बन्यो माथे जसरो मोड गोठ करी घोडा दी ए ए बाघो राठोड.
He has made honour as it were a robe, And fame as it were his coronet; Having made a feast he bestows the horse: Such a one is Wagho Râthod.
To return, however, to R â o M â 1deva and Umâ. The Bhati â ni, after throwing down the dish and bottle of wine, took an oath that Mâldeva should be to her as a father or brother, and that she would never consort with him, and so saying she left the palace. Mâldeva, seeing her anger, endeavoured in vain to pacify her and persuade her to stay; but she returned to her father's house, saying that she would never depart from her oath, and that she would never return. Next morning R â o Mâlde v a, in much wrath, returned to Jodhpur. Um â's father, however, fearing that Mâldeva might attack him on U mâ's account, sent her after him, but on reaching Jodhpur she still refused to see Måldeva, and consequently was allotted a ' separate palace. Râo Mâldeva tried in many ways to soften her, and promised to bestow on her lands, villages, jewels, etc.; but Um â remained obdurate. Râo Mâldeva, in this strait, sent for his Bârot and entreated him in some way or other to soften Umâ. The Bârot agreed and said, "I will go to her palace, and do what I can to persuade her, and you come thither after I have been there a short time." On this agreement the Bârot went to the Bhatiani's palace, and praised and flattered her until she was so pleased that she offered to bestow on him a present. The Bârot, however, refused, saying, "I cannot take anyNagar Vel is the name of the Piper Betel.
