Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western Rajput States of India v3.c43.t1.552

v3.c43.t1.552

Tale of a Bard.—In one of the twenty-four castles dependent on Bumbaoda, resided Lalaji, a kinsman of Alu. He had one daughter; in whose name he sent the coco-nut to his liege lord, the Rana of Chitor; but the honour was declined. The family priest was returning across the antri, when he encountered the heir of Chitor returning from the chase, who, on learning the cause of the holy man’s grief, determined to remove it by taking the nuptial symbol himself. He dismissed the priest, telling him he should soon appear to claim his bride. Accordingly, with an escort befitting the heir of Chitor, and accompanied by a bard then on a visit to the Rana, he set out for Bumbaoda. Bhimsen Bardai was a native of Benares, and happened to pass through Mewar on his way [751] to Cutch-Bhuj, at the very period when all ‘the sons of rhyme’ were under sentence of exile from Mewar : a fate which we frequently find attending the fraternity in this country. The cause of this expatriation was as follows ; an image of the deity had been discovered in clearing out the waters of the lake, of a form so exquisitely beautiful as to enchant every eye. But the position of the arms was singular; one pointed upwards, another downwards, a third horizontally towards the observer. The handwriting on the wall could not have more appalled the despot of Babylon than this *putli* of Chaturbhuja, or ‘image of the four-armed god.’ The prophetic seers were convened from all parts ; but neither the Bhats nor the Charans, nor even the cunning Brahman, could interpret the prodigy ; until, at length, the bard of the Jarejas arrived and expounded the riddle. He showed that the finger pointing upwards imported that there was one Indra, lord of heaven ; and that downwards was directed to the sovereign of Patal (hell) ; whilst that which pointed to the Rana indicated that *he* was lord of the central region (Medpat);¹ which being geographically correct, his interpretation was approved, and met with such reward, that he became the *pat-bardai*, or chief bard to Hamir, who, at his intercession, recalled his banished brethren, exacting in return for such favours that ‘he would extend the palm to no mortal but himself.’ This was the bard who accompanied the heir of Chitor to espouse the daughter of Bumbaoda. The castle of the Hara was thronged ; the sound of mirth and revelry rang through the castle-halls, and the bards, who from all parts assembled to sing the glories of the Haras, were loaded with gifts. Bhimsen could not withstand the offering made by the lord of the Patar, a horse richly caparisoned, splendid clothes, and a huge bag of money : as the bard of the Haras (who told me the tale) remarked, “ although he had more than enough, who can forget habit ? We are beggars (Mangtas) as well as poets by profession.” So, after many excuses, he allowed the gift to be left ; but his soul detested the sin of his eye, and resolving to expiate the crime, he buried his dagger in his heart. Cries rent the air ; “ the sacred bard of Chitor is slain ! ” met the ear of its prince at the very moment of *hatheli* (junction of hands). He dropped the hand of his bride, and demanded vengeance. It was now the Hara’s turn to be offended ; to break off the nuptials at such a moment was redoubling the insult already offered by his father, and a course which not even the bard’s death could justify. The heir of Chitor was conducted forthwith outside Bumbaoda; but he soon returned with the troops of Chitor, and hostilities commenced where festivity so lately reigned. Phalgun approached, and the spring-hunt of the Aheria could not be deferred, though foes were [752] around. Lalaji, father of the bride, went with a chosen band to slay a boar to Gauri, in the plains of Tukarai; but Kaitsi heard of it, and attacked them. Alike prepared for the fight or the feast, the Hara accepted the unequal combat; and the father and lover of the bride rushed on each other, spear in hand, and fell by mutual wounds.