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AUGUST, 1885.]
THE SONG OF ALHA'S MARRIAGE.
217
(370) to where Indar'man was sitting in court. They cried to Indar'man to save their lives. When Indar'man saw them he grieved in his soul, and he himself took up one of the rolls of betel, which he had deposited as a challenge. He called for his elephant Bhaun. rânand, and had it fed with nine mans of bhang, 16 (375) and taking only ten soldiers with him, as a quiet battalion, started. In a moment's walk he arrived at Siva's temple. Radal's horse, which was tied there, saw the battalion, and lamenting, called upon Dévi to save his life. Dêvi came in the form of Banas'pati (the goddess of the forest, (380) and untied it. The horse flew into the sky, to where Radal was sleeping in the temple, and wakened him with the trampling" of its hoofs, telling him that Indar'man's battalion had come. Rûdal leaped upon his steed and arrived in the midst of the battalion (385) and without considering whether it was a propi. tious time or not, he immediately began to use his sword.
Then began the fight between Indar'man and Rûdal in Siva's temple. Such a fight was it that no one had time to recognize friend from foe. The discus-headed arrows hissed. 'gan'gan gan'gan,' and the camels cried 'bal'bal.' * San'san san'san' whizzed the bullets, so that on neither side could the ears of the warriors) bear to hear the terrible noise. (390) Rudal cut down all the ten soldiers of Indar'man, and made a clear space. Then Indar'man became greatly enraged and drew his sword, but when he struck at him Rûdal received the blow on his shield which weighed eighty mans. But the shield was cut through by the stroke, and only the inside pad remained in the hand of the man behind it. The arm and rib of Rudal was broken by the blow; (395) his horse's shoe was broken, and the horse's rider fell to the In It has the property of infuriating elephants. 11 ta, to trample.
जाते is for जातीह oblique of जात or जाइत, present participle of 'go,' immediately on going.
*FET is the soft pad of cotton on which soents (such na 'tar of roses) are dropped, as on a sponge. It is also used to mean the bed of cleaned cotton on which a person is laid when suffering severely from eruptive diseases. Thus they say yaar a f e ast, I 415T 9 ales artso badly has the small-pox come out on him that I have put him to lie on a cotton phdha.' ya or TTT 18 the inner throat.
* The Morang is the Eastern end of the Nepal Tardi.
ground screaming Râm, Râm !' When Dêvi saw Rûdal in this parlous state, she came from Indra's paradise to him, and dropped ambrosia into his throat. (400) As soon as his palate tasted it, Rûdal rose in amazement, and finding his life saved by Dêvi, fled to save it himself. Fleeing, fleeing, he arrived at Moh'ba. So much for Rûdal, now hear the account of Alha.
Quoth he, how often did I warn Bagh Rådal, but the boy paid. no heed to my words.' (405) For fifty-two leagues in all directions did Bagh Rûdal have the drum beaten, and he wrote a letter and sent it to Til'ri. The oilmen and shopmen of Til'ri, terrible in arms as a black tempest, sent a letter to Nar'bar'garh, to the audience hall of king Med'ni Singh, who (on its receipt) set out for and arrived at Moh'bâ. (410) So also came the kings of Mak'rannagarh and the Morangoo and Bhuwan Singh the king of Sil'hat, Sur'jan Singh the king of Dillf came, and the old Saiyad of Banáras," with his nine sons and eighteen grandsons. He could stop lowering clouds. Very terrible was he in the fight” (415) Miyan Meh'di of Kábul came, who ate his food in his hand.8. He will fly in the air as he fights, and the corpses of those killed by him will be eaten by fairies. Came King Lâkhan Singh with lákhs on lákhs of horsemen. Naumaniya came whose sword weighed nine mans and whose grindstone weighed a hundred and twenty-five mans." He was a leader amongst a hundred heroes. How can I describe his entrenchments P (420) Bhuwan Singh, the king of Sil'hat came. Radal quickly summoned every king who could fight. 'All who could fight, and who owned a lakh and a quarter of cavalry he summoned. So much is the account of the kings, now hear about Rûdal.
He threw down the rolls of betels' and took one up himself. (425) He caused war-kettle
51 He was TAIA, a great friend and ally of the Band. phals. See Summary of the Alha Khand, post. Compare Mr. Waterfield's translation of the Kanauji version of that poem, Cal. Rev., Vol. LXI., P. 309 :
And Mira TAlhan the Saiyid
In Bansrag then abode; And by his banner nine stout sons
And eighteen grandsons rode.' . W e means, 'hanging as if about to rain'. I have only noted its use in connection with clouds.
83 lit. in arms. 8. As he rode to the meeting, so hasted he. 45 lit. iron.
50 About six cut. 07 About four and a half tons.
This line is repeated twice." See note to line 319.
