Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western Rajput States of India v2.c28.s1.t2.63

v2.c28.s1.t2.63

“ Abhai, a second Ajit, was introduced to the Aspati ; his father heard the news and rejoiced. But this world is a fable—a lie. Time will sooner or later prey on all things. What king, what raja can avoid the path leading to extinction ? The time allotted for our sojourn here is predetermined ; prolong it we cannot. The decree penned by the hand of the Creator is engraven upon each forehead at the hour of birth. Neither addition nor subtraction can be made. Fate (honhar) must be fulfilled. It was the command of Govinda ¹ that Ajit (the Avatar of Indra) should obtain immortality, and leave his renown in the world beneath. Ajit, so long a thorn in the side of his foe, was removed to Parloka.² He kept afloat the faith of the Hindu, and sunk the Muslim in shame. In the face of day, the lord of Maru took the road which leads to Paradise (Vaikuntha). Then dismay seized the city ; each looked with dread in his neighbour’s face as he said, ‘ Our sun has set ! ’ But when the day of Yamaraj ³ arrives, who can retard it ? Were not the five Pandus enclosed in the mansion of Himala ? ⁴ Harchand escaped not the universal decree ; nor will gods, men, or reptiles avoid it, not even Vikrama or Karna ; all fall before Yama. How then could Ajit hope to escape ?