Indian Antiquary Vol 17

Author(s): John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 98

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MARCH, 1888.
tion; the general impression being that the event emboldened the Sikhs. Nevertheless English, who were only Franks and could not Lal Singh began to retreat, and the Sikhs perprevail against the Khålsås, would be con- ceiving this, followed his example, whereon the quered, unmercifully destroyed, and thus English were not slow in pursuing them, taking deprived of Hindustan.
also possession of their artillery. The next 45. After having made some preparations action took place at Firozpur where ten for a campaign the turbulent army marched to regiments and the full paltans of the Sikhs the Satluj, whilst all the Pürbiâs and white fought, and having also 100 pieces of artillery soldiers advanced towards them from the other at their disposal, they boldly advanced to side, led by their Commander-in-Chief and by open the battle. The English had two noble the Governor-General himself, who sent first officers, one Hardinge, the valiant amir and a memorandum to the Sikh army to the effect Governor who was a lion of war, and the that the British Goverument had always been Commander Gough celebrated for his couron friendly terms with Ranjit Singh, and age. They ordered the troops to make a that there being no occasion for hostilities, the simultaneous onslaught, one side of the plain troops ought to return to their homes. This being occupied by the white soldiers who rained advice remaining unheeded the contest began, cannon balls upon the Sikhs, whilst from the and the first action took place at Mudki, in other Hindustânî troops attacked them. When which 30,000 Sikhs took part with 32 pieces of the fight was at its hottest, and the ground had artillery, the Commander-in-Chief being LAI become a tulip-field of blood, Raja Tēj Singh, Singh, who was outwardly a friend to the the commander of the Sikhs, found it unsuitSikhs, but inwardly their worst enemy. The able to hold his ground any longer, and Sikhs who made the attack fought valiantly and retreated; whereon the whole Sikh army fled, caused rivers of blood to flow. The English and on this occasion the treasure with all the advanced and the noble (political) agent ammunition and 72 pieces of artillery fell into Broad foot was with them till the evening, the hands of the English. when he was slain on the battle-field, which
(To be continued.)
MISCELLANEA. CURIOSITIES OF INDIAN LITERATURE. off the first syllable of all the above epithets SOME QUAINT BLESSINGS.
as follows:The following blessings were collected by me in | May the Supreme Lord without beginning Mithild. They are much admired by the Pandite :- (or found by omitting the beginning of the above II.
epitheta) (Krishna),—who is mounted on the lord
of birds ( + गवीशपत्रो नगजातिहारी
T i.e. a peacock), the destroyer of
the pains of the elephant (Taufriert), the father of कुमारतातः शशिखण्डधारी।
Mára (Hara:), who is decorated with a peacock's लड़ेशसम्पूजितपादपाः
tail (raugurt), and the lotuses of whose feet are पायादनादिः परमेश्वरो वः॥
worshipped by Kosa, -protect you. This is capable of either of two interpretations as follows: May the Supreme Lord without beginning
विराजराजपुत्रार्यन्नाम चतुरक्षरम् । (Śiva) - who is mounted (997) on the lord of cows, पूर्वार्ध तव शत्रूणां परार्धे तव वेश्मनि ॥ (i.e. a bull), who is the destroyer of the pains of
"May the first half (Tri i.e. death) of the four the Daughter of the Mountain (Pårvati), who is
syllabled name (t r ) of the enemy of Prathe father of Kumára, who bears the crescent of
dyumna, be in the house of thy enemies, and the the moon and the lotuses of whose feet were worshipped by the Lord of Lanka (Ravana),--pro.
second half (74 i.e. victory) in thine. tect you.'
Here fa = a bird. A = Garuda. The other interpretation is obtained by cutting Topi Krishna. TUT = Pradyumna.
* (Really at Perdshahr or Ferozeshah, eight miles from Firôzpůr on the Lodi Road.-ED.)