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214
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[AUGUST, 1885.
tie of brother with this man.' She took off all her jewels, and laid them in the litter. (215) She fastened round herself a loin-cloth fifty-two yards long, and leaped forty-two cubits in the air. Then began the fight between the brother and sister; O gentlemen, terrible was the fight! The scimitars shrieked taş'tar taş'tar' and the swords Khatar khatar.' San'san san'san' hissed the bullets, as the combatants hardly set foot to earth. (220) For seven days and eighty-seven nights (sic) the battle lasted. Even when seven cubits of earth had been hollowed out by their feet, still Son'vati did not retreat. Then king Indar'. man drew his scimitar and called upon the name of Ali,*s and as he struck at Son'vatî, she warded off the blow with her plaited hair; a second blow he aimed at her which she warded off with her bracelet, and a third which she warded off with the border of her garment." (225) Then the lady leaped fifty-two cubits high, caught Indar'man by the wrist and threw him to the ground. She then pressed him down under her knee, till he screamed out
Rám, Râm. Sam Deva" saw this and began to weep bitterly. Crying 'Alas, alas !' he caught hold of her, and said, Daughter Son'vati, agree to this. (230) First cut off your father's head, and then your brother's.' Son'vati heard this much and became much perplexed. She, however, spared Indar' man, and answered her father,' How often have I warned this brother, but he heeded not my words. Last night I had a dream from Siva." (235) So much heard Indar'man, and in a rage he blazed up like burning coals. Cried he, 'I will have a canal dug from the Ganges to this place, and will fetch here Siva's discus" itself. Flowers will I supply from the garden, so that you may do your worship at home.' No one knows the arts of women. She turned the subject, and began to speak disparagingly of Bagh Rûdal. (240) 'He ! Oh, he is the man that was turned out of Sonrh'ļi. The king Jhag'rů turned him out. He is the slavel
*** is connected with 4 unripe,' hence 'hard, hence the word means the sound produced in beating a hard substance. Thus they say 95 HITT, I will give you a beating which will make a great sound.
* For 'Ali, the son-in-law of Muhammad and the patron of the Shi's Musalming.
46 In all these battles, it seems to have been etiquette not to strike the first blow. There is generally a contest of politeness between the combatants as to who is to
of a foreign master. How could he aspire to marry Son'vatî P'
Then Indar'man sent with Son'vatî her five sisters-in-law, and called out to nurse Mungiya, | O Nurse, hear my words! Whatever you see
occur in Siva's temple you must send word to me about it at once.'
(245) The litter of Son'vati started, and she entered the temple. The temple had fiftytwo gates, and inside them all went Son'vati. When she saw the image of Siva she began to grieve in her heart. "Nurse, nurse,' she called, My blessing be upon nurse Mungiya ! The flowers in my basket have run short. Go and fetch some from the garden.' (250) So much heard the nurse, and she was delighted in her heart. She took a golden flower-basket in her hands, and went to the garden.
Débâ, the Brahman, was seated there when the nurse arrived. Rudely said she, "Sir, hear my words! Of what country is the king who has come and encamped in the garden? (255) You will have to pay tribute for the garden. Give me my tribute.' Then called out Doba, "My blessing be upon nurse Mungiya! I am Duniya Singh, king of Loh'ganjar. I am come at the invitation of Sam Dêvå. I am comu to comply with his invitation. So much heard the nurse, and in a rage she blazed up like burning coals. (260) She began to speak disparagingly of Bagh Rûdal. The slave of a foreign master, Rûdal earns his bread from a stranger. How can that Rûdal be so andacious as to aspire to Son'vati's hand P' (When Radal heard these words) his heart burned within him, and from the soles of his feet he blazéd up like burning coal, as he cried, 'She is only a nurse, and dares to reply thus. Then what audacity is this of mine (compared with hers).' (265) He leaped towards the nurse, seized her by the wrist and threw her to the ground. He tore off the border of her garment" and the precious strings of her bodice, and dishonoured her as she screamed, Rám, Ram.'
Son'vati's nurse fled from the garden (270) begin. Usually the villain of the combat strikes three ineffectual blows at the hero, who then goes in and wins. 47 Her and Indarman's father, s 1.e. Not till then. ** 1. e. I must go to his temple and worship there. 50 His special object of worship. MANTE is a servant paid by being given a ar of food each day.
" Where it hid her bosom.
