________________
JUNE, 1908.]
LEGENDS FROM THE PANJAB.
153
Verse. This said gagga,19 that drew his dagger. This had begun to say rarrd, 20 when tlie dagger was out. Salâbat showed a stern faco : his speech was not sweet ; without speech his mien was harsh.
Seizing his dagger (Amar Singh) smote him in the bathing place : (he) whose hands were fair were red with blood.
Amar Singh went not back on his exploit, instead of paying silver he began to pay the price in iron ( sword).
Leaping the mire of blood, Amar Sing gave a wound each to all the soldiers, sir.
It was not the protection of the shield, nor the protection of walls; it was only the protection of loyalty that saved the King of Dehli.
The King of Dehli fled while the brave Amar Singh's sword triumphed over life. (Saith Mani Rama), corpse was jammed and hidden under corpse,
The rank and dignity of the Hindus were opheld by Amar Singh: praise upon praise to his dagger!
With a dagger of a quarter & of iron he shook the kingdom: had there been a sword it would have been like a Holi play.
Of all the nobles sitting there he would not have let one go : he would have slain all.
Protection of the Eternal Siva! The Maharaja paased, lest le should fail in his loyalty, or the whole fort would have been slain.
When Salábat Khân called Amar Singh a lout and deinanded payment of the fine, the Raja was roused to anger, because he was the son of a Rajput, and he thought :-" It to-day this man calls me a lout in open court, to-morrow he will abuse me." Taking a dagger froin his waist he slew Salábat Khan and twelve other youths who were present in the inperial couro. The King was afraid and applauded the RÂje, who replied: "I have eaten your salt, else I would have killed your Majesty also."
The King went to his palace and ordered his troope to surround the RAja, promising to bestow the rank of commander of 24,000 on anyone who should capture Amar Singh, and bring him alive to the King; and the rank of commander of 12,000. if he were brought in dead. One, Arjan Gaur, sister's son to the Raja, was employed as an officer at the porch of the royal palace. He represented to the King that he could only bring in RAJA Amar Singh, if he killed him first. The King said: "If you bring him in dead I will give yon the runk of commander of 12,000, and if alive of 24,000."
11 Ganwar,' rasties a term of reproach. Gaggd, the lettory, the first letter of gansoar. 20 Rarrd, the letter, the last letter of ganwar.
11 By way of blood-money. n Lit., Aalt: the meaning is that it was Amar Singh's loyalty to his sovereign that saved the King. 23 The writor of the varies.
" That is, 'with a dagger containing about half a pound of iron.' 15 Flashing sword play is frequently used at the Holi and other festivals. 26 That is, Amar Singh.
