Indian Antiquary Vol 52

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Stephen Meredyth Edwardes, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 523

APRIL, 1923)
HIR AND RANJHA
75
the Central Authority; otherwise local armies would not be allowed to be raised. Further, as Waris Shah makes very little attempt to depict a definite historical period, but rather contents himself with depicting the state of society, as it was known to himself and his forefathers, we may hazard the suggestion that the control by the Moghals and their predecessors over Jhang and that part of the country was of a somewhat loose nature.
Hîr and Ranjha meet with adventures on the way. They encounter a lion. Ranjha's interview with the lion is worth quoting. It contains one of the few bits of typical folklore in the poem. “The lion smelt them and came towards them with a roar, and Hir said : “Ranjha, a lion is coming, remember the Pîrs for God's sake." Ranjha remembered the Five Pirs and they came in the twinkling of an eye. The Fire Pirs advise Ranjha to speak gently and persuasively to the lion, but eventually, if he refuses to listen to reason, they recommend him to up and slay the lion.
“Gallant Lion," exclaims Ranjha, “I beseech you by Pir and Fakir to spare us. In the name of Hazrat Pir Dastgir, the Eord of Pirs, I beseech you to go away" The lion replies, " Ranjha, listen to me, for the last seven days I have not had anything to eat or drink and now God had sent me a victim." The lion then makes a rush at Ranjha. Ranjha attacks him with the cudgel given him by Jahanian (one of the Five Pirs), and the dragger given him by Jalál Bukhari (another of the Five Pirs). He kills the lion and puts his nails and flesh in his wallet. Sleep then ovecromes him despite Hir's warnings; while they are asleep the Kheras come upon them and capture them.
Ranjha then at the suggestion of Hir seeks for justice from Raja Adali. (I do not think Raja Adali is meant to portray Adal Shah, or that he is meant to be a historical personage. Possibly the name is meant to suggest the typical just Raja ; but against this theory we must record the fact that the Patiala version of the story, quoted by Temple in Punjab Legends, makes Raja Adali anything but a just Raja.)
In the Patiala version Raja Adali is so struck by Hir's charms that he proposes to keep her for himself. On hearing Ranjha's request Raja Adali issues orders to his armies to capture the Kheras. This use of the military to enforce criminal jurisdiction might explain why a criminal court is called a Faujdari Adalat. It is probable that Martial Law far more nearly approximates to the Indian ideal of criminal procedure than the oumbrous intricacies of the Crimj. nal Procedure Code ; it also happens to be a fairly correct translation of Fâujdari Adalat, but this is by the way and a mere obiter dictum.
Ranjha and the Kheras both state their case before the Raja and the Raja refers them to the Kâzi. The Kâzi hears both sides. He is not impressed with Ranjha's special pleading that he and Hîr were betrothed in the tablet of destiny. He somewhat brutally brings them from the clouds to earth by remarking “Without witnesses there can be no marriage. Produce your witnesses." The Kazi, seeing clearly that Hir was really married to Saida, tells Ranjha that he must give up Hir to the Kheras. Ranjha bursts into abuse of Käzis and their ways, remarking "if you sympathize so much with the Kheras, give them your own daughter." This insult not unnaturally enrages the Kâzi and he peremptorily gives Hir back to the Kheras.
When Hîr and Ranjha learn their fate they call down curses on the Raja and his city. As the result of these imprecations the city catches fire. The Râja in perplexity summons his wise men and astrologers. They tell him : “ The pens of your officers are free from blame, but God has listened to the sighs of the lovers. Fire has descended from heaven and it has consumed the palaces, forts and ditches of the city." Whereupon the Raja ordered the Kheras to be arrested by his armies, and taking Hír from the Kheras he gave her back to Ranjba.