Indian Antiquary Vol 03

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 26

18
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(JANUARY, 1874.
the drums to beat against the land of Chahu
vdn."
"(Sataha.) Listen, Lord! having beaten drums and prepared the army of the great warrior Gori, the (Ulal?) Tartár Maruf has arranged it in four divisions (Chaturang) * the Sahab Shah is not bringing only one army; a second one is ready." +
(Dohd.) Taking Ahibeli fruit in his hand, the infidel Tartär, in order to confirm his resolution (masuratti), has read against thee a verse of the Korån.
(Kundelia.) The valiant (var) Musaf Tartar Khan, eager to gain a hero's death has said): I have broken the fort of Lahor; I shall also capture Dilli in a night and a day; listen to this, Sultan; Pandir is (truly) a feller of corpses; (for) the hosts of Chahuvân shall fall; do not be troubled in your mind; for the king (Prithiraj) has arranged a hunting expedition. The lord of Ghuz- ni then gave the command and all went away after havingt touched the Musdf. (End of the letter.)
(Dohd.) Chahuvan arose and marched forth, making stages of six kos distance (mur). To Chandvir Pandir ho gave a letter of authority. To meet the host of Gori Lord he went straight into the Panjab; from both sides, East and West, they joined the Chahuvân and the Sultan. Messengers went to Kanauj; they arrived in that place; & detailed account of Chahuvân they told fully to Kamadhai. "Having come to Revậtata, Chahuvân heard about the great Gori, that in great secrecy the Sultan has prepared an army i for his spies (data) havo informed him that the Sambhalt Raja is enjoying fine sport in Rovatata, where in the country around (pddhar) there is to be found plenty of fine animals." (End of mossage to Kanauj).
(Kavitta.) All chiefs (Samanta) met together. Naresar thus propounded his advice. “The host of the Shah is tenfold; it is well prepared in four divisions; and his own mind is resolved (sajt ur). Do not blunder in your counsel; consider this good advice; our forces are smaller; consider what the end will be; as quickly as possible you must take leave of life; the Gori has prepared his host with great thought; but in a battle the host of Prithiraj is powerful; don't you make any delay (or contention among your selves)." Hearing the words of Pajjan R&o, Parsang smiled. Deva Rào Vaggari drew back his foot:
"As quickly as possible take leave of the body: truly a valiant word he speaks. The sword is drawn and wafting, as the leaves of a tree shake; the Sultan has collected (his forces) and is before our very face; the Lord of Dillt must make up an army; the host of warriors and the resolutions of the Chiefs must now be made an example."
Says Rao Pajjan: "I have come out to rid us of the Tartar. I, in the southern country, have put to flight the host of Jadava; I have been en. gaged in war together with Rao Châmand; and with Babhan|l and with the valiant Bargújar. The army of Chahuvân is a host of valiant Warriors : what in comparison) do you count the Gori's host? they are like Bhim and Kaurava. What is a heap of roots compared with the tree" (?) Then says Jait Pâvâr: "Listen to advice, O Raja Prithirêj; it is a war with Gori Shah. O Lord ! let us remember the fate of the fort of Lahor; let the king be pleased to collect together his whole army, and let him send letters to his best dependants (e n ) and relations (ET) and friends; this, Sir, is the advico of us Chiefs; or whatever advice you, Lord, think best, (that be taken); (only) let our goods be safe, and our duty and our glory be as they ought to be; and the light of our lord be bright like that in the heavens." "Wah! wah !" said Ram the Raghuvansa, and indignantly calling out he arose : "Listen, all ye chiefs! the Shah is come; his forces have started; an elephant and a lion and a brave have started. man, wherever he is opposed, there he fights; of seasonable or unseasonable he knows nothing: he is slipped into the mire of shame, we chiefs do not know deliberation; we hold but one daty, that of dying. The Sultan's army has been first collected; shall we now collect P what is the use of it P" (The other Chiefs say P) "O Gajar, you Ganwar ; playing the king is no advice; you dio your self and the lord will be destroyed; what is the use of such a prospect; all servants of Chahuvan flee to their country and enjoy themselves in their forts; then what can our master do alone in the battle? The learned, the soldier, the poet, the musician, the merchant, and the public women are the ornaments around a king, as the black bees round the head of the elephant; when he disperses them by (flapping) his ears, he appears beautiful."
(Doha.) "Disgrace falls upon us by going into contention; before us is the war with the Sultan; let us now consider only this advice, namely, to fight and to die. Let us observe. The
• Here one line omitted. + Translation doubtful. I As & sign of obeisance and obedience. $ 6.6. with Prithiraj, as council of war. || Omitted - वमन वास विरास?
Ti... He is ashamed of the doctrine that "discretion is the better part of valour."
Here ends the account of the council of war. There wore two parties in it. One counsellod immediate action; Prithirdj should advance against the enemy with whatever