Jawamiʿ al-hikayat wa lawamiʿ al-riwayat 9: Rái Gúrpál of Nahrwála. · [I. vi. 33.]

9

The following is one of the most interesting stories relating to the people of India. There was a Rái of Nahrwála named Gúrpál, who surpassed all the other rulers in Hindústán in good qualities and amiable disposition. Before he had been raised to the throne he had passed many of his years in beggary, during which period he had experienced all the vicissitudes of fortune, having shared both its smiles and frowns, and endured all the miseries of travel. When he obtained power he exercised it with a right appreciation of the duties of a ruler, remembering his own days of adversity he afforded full protection and justice to his subjects, ruling with impartiality and equity.
It is said that one day having left the city, he rode into the surrounding country on an elephant. While looking about him, his eye suddenly fell on the wife of a washerman who was going to the jungle to wash clothes. She was dressed in red, and of surpassing beauty ; all who beheld her became passionately in love with her and lost all control over themselves.
The Rái overcome by the feelings her beauty excited in his heart, turned his elephant towards her and was tempted to let his passion get the mastery over his better feelings. Suddenly he came to himself, and, restraining his wrongful desires, said, "O passions you are doing wrong, beware. Good never comes to him who does ill." He then turned back filled with remorse, and assembling all the Brahmans, he ordered them to prepare fuel, declaring his intention of burning himself alive. The Brahmans asked him what sin he had committed. He then told them of the wicked desires he had entertained in his heart. The Brahmans having heard his relation, said that they undoubtedly must burn him, and that even then the expiation would be incomplete. For he was king, and his power supreme ; if he could not restrain his passions, then in a short time all the female inhabitants of the city would become degraded and all the offspring illegitimate. It was right, therefore, that he should immolate himself, and by so doing, obtain forgiveness for his sins, and enter into eternal life. Wood was then brought, and a funeral pile having been made, it was lighted. When it was thoroughly on fire and the flames mounted high, then the Rái made preparations to throw himself into the midst, but the Brahmans prevented him, saying :
"The work of expiation is complete, inasmuch as the fault was of the mind and not of the body. The innocent should not be punished for the guilty, had your body been a participator in the crime, then indeed it had been necessary to have burnt it also. Your mind has already been punished and purified by fire." They then removed the Rai from the pyre, and he in celebration of this sacrifice, gave as a thank-offering one lac of Balotras, and bestowed large sums in charity.
"If a king be just, although he be an infidel, His country will be secure from all injury and loss."