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NRTYARATNAKOS'A
[ 17
Saubhagyadevi-daughter of Rājā, son of Jaitmal, the ruler of Runkot in Marwar (p. 3). The year of his birth has not been ascertained.
The first concern of Kumbha after he became the ruler of Mewar must have been to avenge the assassination of his father Mahārānā Mokal. It was, however Ranmal Rathod of Mandor in Marwar, the maternal uncle of Mokal, who took the lead in the matter. On hearing the news of the murder of his nephew, he threw off his turban and putting on a 'phenta' vowed that he would not wear a turban till he had taken full revenge. This was one of the traits of Rajput character. After presenting the Nazar to the new Mahārāņā he started in pursuit of Chacha, Maira and Mahipa towards Pai hills. After strenuous effort Ramal Rathod succeeded in attacking his enemies in the fort and defeat them-killing Chacha and Maira. But Mahipā and Chacha's son Ekkā escaped and went to Mandu the Capital of Malwa at the time and sought the protection of the Sultan of Malwa, Mahmud Khalji (p. 39).
Kumbha asked Mahmud Khalji to surrender the traitors to him which, however, the latter refused to do. This started hostilities between Mewar and Malwa which lasted for several years.
Kumbha sent an army said to consist of a hundred thousand horsemen and fourteen hundred elephants. It was under the command of the valiant Rathod Ranmal. The action took place near Sarangpura place between Chitor and Mandsaur in A.D. 1437 (p.50). Mahmud Khalji's army was routed and the Sultan fled and shut himself up in the fort of Mandu. Ranmal's army besieged the fort. When Mahmud Khalji found that he could not hold the fort, he asked Mahipa to go away. Mahipa escaped to Gujarat. Kumbha took the fort by storm and Ranmal captured Sultan Mahmud Khalji. Kumbha returned to Chitor in great triumph, carrying the captive Sultan with him. Mahmud was kept as a prisoner for six months in Chitor and then released without any ransom. There have been many comments on this magnanimity which turned out to be misplaced2.
The construction of a Jaya-Stambha (Pillar of Victory) at Chitor was started to commemorate this victory (51).
There seems to be no contradictory evidence as far as this major event the victory over the Sultan Mahmud Khalji of Malwa-is concerned.
But this was not the only fight in which he was engaged in
1 ibid p.50. ibid pp. 51-52.
2 See pp. 52-57 M K.
3 ibid p. 51. See for an opposite account C.H. I. Vol. III P. 528.
