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218
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[AUGUST, 1835.
drums to be sounded, and the drumsticks bearers. (455) They entered into the fort where sounded 'karám karám.' Quickly he sent for Indar'manwas seated. Indar'man leaped Alha, O brother, come with me! I will upon Alhâ, and seizing him by the wrist cast celebrate your marriage with Son'vati, night him to the earth. With fifty-two rows of string and day will the swords be plied.'
he tied his hands behind his back, and packed Gangan, the washerman of Dur'gauli, had him up in a sack. Then he put him upon a barge fifty-two asses tied at his door." On these he and cried, Brother Chhôtak, my blessing be loaded his maces; terrible as a black tempest upon yon. (460) Take Alhå away and drown was he in the fight. (430) Danî the Koîrî of him in the Ganges. Chhôtak made ready & the Baburt forest, who had a lakh of cavalry battalion of a hundred and twenty-five thousand mounted on Singhin horses, came. So the men, and arrived at the Ganges' bank. There battalion of Bagh Rûdal started, with its three they sank him in the Ganges. They sank Alha hundred thousand cavalry. After journey in the water, but he being the immortal son of a night and a day they arrived at their of Jasar was not drowned. destination," and in Dar'gauli did they pitch In the meantime Rûdal came back to camp their tents. Folding his hands Rudal asked from Indra's paradise. (465) The palanquinhis brother to attend to his instructions. (435) bearers are weeping in Dar'gauli, O lord Then leaving a guard of nine hundred soldiers Rudal, take some measures. They have over Älhä he went to Indra's paradise. He drowned Alha: they have drowned him in the went, having bought vermilion of the immortals. Ganges.' Rûdal leaped upon his horse and So much is the account of Rúdal, now hear the arrived at the Ganges' bank. tale of Nainagash.
The fight with Chhotak commenced. "Taş'tar The bard of Nainagarh was a tale-bearer, and taş'tar' shrieked the scimitars, and khatar khaNo he went into the audience chamber of Indar'. tar' the swords. (470) As a wolf falls upon goats, man (saying), Rûdal's brother is Alh'gaðjar, so fell Rûdal upon the battalion. Those whom and he is encamped at Durgauli. (440) he caught by the leg and Aung to the ground There is an army of three hundred thousand were torn to pieces. He cut off the heads of men with Alha. Folding his hands respect- the elephants, and they floated in the water fully he said, My blessing be upon the like little boats. He smote the camels a slap, lord Indar'man. If you give me the order, I and they fell down with their legs in the air. will call him here.' At hearing so much, The hundred and twenty-five thoasand men-atking Indar'man was delighted and exclaimed, arms of Chhotak were cut to pieces. (475) Then * The day on which you bring Alhå here, on he smote Chhôták, and cleft his head in two. that day will I give you half the kingdom Away fled Chhotak's soldiers to king Indar'. of Naina.' (445) The bard went forth from man's audience hall. "A hard warrior,' say Nainagarh and arrived at Durgaulî: folding they, 'is Bagh Rûdal, he has cut us all to his hands he said, 'Lord AlhA, king of kings, pieces, and cleared the field.' 'So much is the hear me. The sword will not be plied in tale of Indar'man, now hear about Radal. Nainagarh, and the marriage will take place He took Älha out of the barge and laid peaceably.'* Albâ folded his hands and re- him on the ground. (480) Then when he plied, 'O Bard, hear the truth! I will not opened the sack and saw his brother, Rädal go to Nainagarh ; (if I did), I would fall into gmote his chest with his mighty band. He put calamity. (450) But the bard took an oath, him into the palanquin, and escorted him to
O lord Älha, hear my words! Let him who Durgaull. So much is the tale of Alha, now deceives a king be washed away by the Ganges,' hear about Indar'man. So Alha's palanquin started in great pomp,
He threw down the rolls of betel and took and in two and a half gharís arrived at | up one himself. He made the war-music Nainågarh, accompanied by nine hundred play and the instruments founded jujhám,
0 lit. gwinging: cf. note to line 110.
ners strive to reach. This is the forest where Am'r& Guru, the spiritual
This line is quito unintelligible. The singer himself preceptor of the Banophals, lived.
did not know its meaning. " T, from wra, run,' means the goal which run-1 lit., through or by means of (5 ) virtue.
