271

THE PRITHIRAJA RASAU.

Sept. 6, 1872.]

he does not wish to go to. How can one see a thing that is out of sight 2 How can one repeat that which he never heard How can one seize what has no body ?”

-

“This story so great and unequalled you must not press me to tell ; the ear that hears it is pained, nor is any advantage derived.” Anā said “Mother hear my words : What happens to a man who hears a tale 2 In old times, how many Rishis, Raos, Suras, and Dā

issued—the flame burst forth ; the Brahmans

repeating charms (mantras) performed his en thronement, and gave him their blessing. The king divided the lighted wick into three parts :

Two of the cups were overturned on the ground: Seeing the offering before (them, they) whispered together.

From the three cups smoke arose. Knowing the Vedas, they remained silent;-

navas have existed : well known are the stories

At an auspicious time, who would say aught in

of them. Their fights and contests men sing in Śāstra and Veda. This understand O mother Why should I not hear 2 from speaking no ca

The assembly cried “Jay Jay Bisal Bhūpā la (earth-protector) " Thus ruled Bisal Deva

lamity occurs: that which fate has fixed upon assuredly happens.”

(St. 163) O Son | Hear this tale of old, in reciting which my voice trembles.” The Sage made at Abu a fire-pit ; a man came forth to whom he entrusted royalty.

Of his race sprung

a great and religious king, named Bălan.f

auspicious 2*

over Ajmer. He adorned the city as if it had been adorned

by Vishvakarma (the architect of the gods). Abandoning irreligion, he caused religion to flourish; sinful deeds he sought not to perform. He exacted only his rights; without right he

His

indulged not his avarice; the four castes were

son was Bisal Deva, who possessed all the king dom. In the year of Vikrama 821: Bisal mounted the throne. It was Friday the first day of the month, the light half of the

subservient to the Chahuvān; the thirty-six races served him. Bisal Rajã, the religious, shone resplendent as a Deva upon the earth. His Pat Râni was of the race of Parmár.

month, the month Baisakh ; the thirty-six races

From her sprung Sărang Deva, she died in giv

assembled—Brahmans, bards, and all men; Bisal was presented with the royal umbrella (chatra); he received the mark (tilak) of sovereignty on his forehead ; the Brahmans repeated Vedas and verses of power (mantras). Bisal enjoyed as happy a state as that of In dra ; he restored dharma and fame. In Ajmer nagar dwelling—his enemies subduing—Bisal reigned a pure reign. Many mighty cities he took ; in his reign the world seemed to be cover ed by one umbrella. When the umbrella was placed over the head of Bisal, and he was seated on his throne like an Indra, the Brahmans prepared a Vedi, they

ing him birth.

offered a sacrifice of the five flowers.

The smoke

The child he gave to a merchant

(bania); the bania's daughter, whose name was Gauri, was brought up with Sărang.

From the

same breast they drank milk, they had one seat, one bed. When the maiden (kanya) became nine years old, Bisal Deva caused her marriage to be performed. After the marriage the bridegroom went into the forest, there a lion slew him.

Then the bania's daughter took a vow of virgi– nity, abandoning the world she began to per

form penances.

Very grieved was Sārang Deva.

Constantly he performed the worship of the

Arihant; the Buddhist religion he adopted ; he wore no sword. The Raja hearing it became sorrowful. He sent for the prince (Kunwar),

• The following passage is given in the Ras Mala, Wol. I.

pp. 92-98, and is altered in minor to bring it into

931, and his death A.D. 1073.

accordance with Mr. Beames's MS.–ED.

throne about A.D. 1031: Wilford places his accession in

º

+ This is Balianga the “Beer Beelundeo or Dharma j" of Colonel Tod, who defended the Garh, Bitli or hill fºre: of Ajmer against Mahmud of Ghazni, (Rajasthan

Bisal's birth is S. 1066 or A.D. 1009, corresponding to S'ak He must have ascended the

1016.-E.D. The words in three MSS which I have collated are “ath sai ru ikkis.”—J. B.

• The meaning of these lines is very obscure. I suppose it

vol I. p. 775; vol. II. p. 451-52.) On the pillar of Firuz

to be that the king had to light three lamps consisting of

Shah (vide As. Res. vol. I. p. 379; vol. VII. p 180; vol XI.

wicks floating in cups filled with oil, an that some omen was drawn from the way these lamps burned. Two of the cups appear to have been upset and the whiks did not burn properly. The attendant Brahmins appear to have

p. 453) is an inscription beginning “in the year 1220 [A. D. 1164], on the 15th day of Vaisakh suddh (this monument) of the fortunate Visala Deva, son of fortunate Vella Deva, King of Sakambhari.” The date belongs to the reign of

Wigraha Rāja, whom Tod identifies with Prithirāja, and “Wella Deva” or Wel Dev with Bilan. Conf. Prinsep, Es scys, vol. I. pp. 324-25; Forbes, Ras Mala, vol. I. p. 92

observed that the omen was bad, but from prudential mo ives did not say anything about it. The lines have a special significance when taken in con

date S. 921 is “interpolated—a vice not uncommon with the

nection with the disastrous close of King Bisal's reign and the poet has probably introduced them with this intent, though from ignorance of the ceremonies usually observed at coronation sacrifices I am unable to explain what it was

Rajput Bard.” (Rajasthan) v. II. p. 448) Tod's date for

that really took place,—J. BEAMEs.

note.—Ed.

t Forbes's MS. seems to have read 811. Tod says the