Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western Rajput States of India v1.c14.15

v1.c14.15

A material drawback upon the value of these bardic histories is, that they are confined almost exclusively to the martial exploits of their heroes, and to the rang-ran-bhum, or ‘field of slaughter.’ Writing for the amusement of a warlike race, the authors disregard civil matters and the arts and pursuits of peaceful life ; love and war are their favourite themes. Chand, the last of the great bards of India, tells us, indeed, in his preface, “ that he will give rules for governing empires ; the laws of grammar and composition ; lessons in diplomacy, home and foreign, etc.” : and he fulfils his promise, by interspersing precepts on these points in various episodes throughout his work [xiii].