Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western Rajput States of India v1.c20.s3.116

v1.c20.s3.116

The sword was sheathed, and the uncle and nephew embraced, the latter asked the former, “ What were you about, uncle, when I came ?”—“ Only talking nonsense, child, after dinner.” “ But with me over your head, uncle, as a foe how could you be so negligent ?”—“ What could I do? you had left me no resource, and I must have some place to rest my head!” There was a small temple near the stockade, to which in the morning Prithiraj requested his uncle to accompany him to sacrifice to Kali,¹ but the blow of the preceding night prevented him. Sarangdeo was his proxy. One buffalo had fallen, and a goat was about to follow, when the prince turned his sword on Sarangdeo. The combat was desperate; but Prithiraj was the victor, and the head of the traitor was placed as an offering on the altar of Time. The Gaunda² was plundered, the town of Batara recovered, and Surajmall fled to Sadri, where he only stopped to fulfil his threat, “ that if he could not retain its lands he would make them over to those stronger than the king ”;³ and having distributed them amongst Brahmans and bards, he finally abandoned Mewar. Passing through the wilds of Kanthal,⁴ he had an omen which recalled the Charani’s prediction: “ a wolf endeavouring in vain to carry off a kid defended by maternal affection.” This was interpreted as ‘strong ground for a dwelling.’ He halted, subdued the aboriginal tribes, and on this spot erected the town and stronghold of Deolia, becoming lord of a thousand villages, which have descended to his offspring, who now enjoy them under British protection. Such was the origin of Partabgarh Deolia.⁵