Indian Antiquary Vol 03

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 54

42
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
998 to Sam. 1053, whereas the death of Jeychand was about A.D. 1193 or Sam. 1249, these two accounts are manifestly contradictory. Neither Tod nor Forbes (unless the bardic verses quoted in the Rás Málá, p. 60, vol. I., be considered to point out the name) gives the name of Shiyoji's father; and though Tod alludes to the acquisition of Pali, my account differs somewhat from his, and is as follows:
In Samvat 1249, Muhammad Ghori defeated Śri Jeychand of Kânauj. Jeychand himself, while attempting to escape, was drowned in the Ganges. This battle is commemorated by the bards in the following stanzas, the last three lines of which are somewhat obscure :मळ्या हीं दोवळा मळा हेमर गेमर दोभ गढ गोरी महमद पादशा बेचंद भडीया गंगारेट कटका लशकर कमधज तणा कटके कनोबो राजा शीश तो ईशे संगरीयो तन तन टुंट गई त्वचा पादशाह एपळ भोवरे येस बुधमानी मरण उपाड शीस अपछर हे पनी म लाये राव रण. Hindus (and Muhammadans) met on either side; horses and elephants were opposed to each other like ramparts. The Ghori Padshah Muhammad and Jeychand fought with each other on the banks of the Ganges.
The army of the Kamdhaj and King of Kanauj was broken in pieces. The head was taken possession of by Siva, and the skin of the body was lacerated.* At that moment said the Pâdshah, "After so great a battle has the king fallen." "The Apsaras have carried away the head, how then should the Rao be found lying on the battle-field ?"
After this defeat the Rânis of Jeychand became satis, but his son and his followers found shelter in the Badri Nârâyan mountains, where they lived the life of outlaws. Jeychand's son (whose name is not mentioned in this tradition) had a son named Salkhoji, a warlike youth ever foremost in forays and predatory incursions into the territory of the Ya van. This Salkhoji and his Râni, finding they could not establish themselves in the vicinity of their ancient seat, determined to perform a pilgrimage to Dwarka, in hopes that the deity might be
[FEBRUARY, 1874.
propitious and grant them a holding in distant Marwar, then held by the Parihar, Gohel, Parmar, Dâbhi, and other Rajput clans in common with Bhils, Mers, Minas, and others. On their way to D wâr k â they halted for a few days at the village of Sanli, then subordinate to Khergadh, the seat of the Dâbhis and Gohels, between whom it was equally divided. Khergadh was situated on the Luni river, on the west of the Bhâtipâ or Bhâti country, and close to the Sindh and Gujarât frontier. Salkhoji and his Râni and servants alighted and passed the night near Sanli. Now it so happened that there was a man-eating tiger who infested the adjacent jungle, and from his ravages the population of Sanli had suffered severely, so much so that the Gohels and Dâbhis made a proclamation that whosoever would slay the tiger should receive the village of Sanli in inám. The villagers warned Salkhoji that, unless he came within the village enclosure, some of his party would at night infallibly fall a prey to the tiger: Salkhoji, however, did not heed their warnings, but, staying awake all night, slew the tiger. In the morning he was about to continue his march, but the villagers would not suffer him to proceed until they had sent news to the Darbar of the death of the tiger. They then informed him of the proclamation, and told him that they had sent the news to Khergadh. The Chiefs of Khergadh came and formally granted to him the village of Sanli. Salkhoji, having arranged matters at Sanli, proceeded on his pilgrimage to Dwarka. His Râni, who was with child, as her days drew near, returned from Dwarka to Sanli and there gave birth to a son named Shiyoji. When Shiyoji was about four months old, Salkhoji, with his Bâni and family, returned to the Badri Nârâ yan mountains and continued his predatory incursions. In Salkhoji's time Pâli was governed by a Bhil chief; this chief's son, named Jawa, while walking through the city of P âli beheld and became enamoured of a beautiful Brahmani girl and determined to marry her. The Raja, hearing of this, endeavoured to dissuade his son, who, however, would not forego his purpose: the Raja therefore sent for the Brahman and told him of his son's wish. The Brahman was much vexed, but, seeing that it
The head here may mean Jeychand, and the skin of the body the army.