Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western Rajput States of India v2.c28.s1.t2.74

v2.c28.s1.t2.74

The Sati.—“Of noble race was the Bhattiani queen, a scion (sakha) of Jaisal, and daughter of Birjang. She put up a prayer to the Lord who wields the discus.³ ‘With joy [93] I accompany my lord; that my fealty (sati) may be accepted, rests with thee.’ In like manner did the Gazelle (Mrigavati) of Derawal,⁴ and the Tuar queen of pure blood,⁵ the Chawara Rani,⁶ and her of Shaikh-avati, invoke the name of Hari, as they determined to join their lord. For these six queens death had no terrors; but they were the affianced wives of their lord : the curtain wives of affection, to the number of fifty-eight, determined to offer themselves a sacrifice to Agni.⁷ ‘Such another opportunity,’ said they, ‘can never occur, if we survive our lord; disease will seize and make us a prey in our apartments. Why then quit the society of our lord, when at all events we must fall into the hands of Yama, for whom the human race is but a mouthful? Let us leave the iron age (Kaliyuga) behind us.’ ‘Without our lord, even life is death,’ said the Bhattiani, as she bound the beads of Tulsi⁸ round her neck, and made the tilak with earth from the Ganges. While thus each spoke, Nathu, the Nazir,⁹ thus addressed them : ‘This is no amusement; the sandal-wood you now anoint with is cool : but will your resolution abide, when you remove it with the flames of Agni? When this scorches your tender frames, your hearts may fail, and the desire to recede will disgrace your lord’s memory. Reflect, and remain where you are. You have lived like Indrani,¹ nursed in softness amidst flowers and perfumes ; the winds of heaven never offended you, far less the flames of fire.’ But to all his arguments they replied : ‘The world we will abandon, but never our lord.’ They performed their ablutions, decked themselves in their gayest attire, and for the last time made obeisance to their lord in his car. The ministers, the bards, the family priests (Purohits), in turn, expostulated with them. The chief queen (Patrani) the Chauhani, they told to indulge her affection for her sons, Abhai and Bakhta ; to feed the poor, the needy, the holy, and lead a life of religious devotion. The queen replied : ‘Kunti, the wife of Pandu, did not follow her lord ; she lived to see the greatness of the five brothers, her sons ; but were her expectations realized ?² This life is a vain shadow ; this dwelling one of sorrow ; let us accompany our lord to that of fire, and there close it.’