History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v3.c36.s1.12

v3.c36.s1.12

But the story of the Rāsā as to how Prithvirāj ended his life is the climax of its unhistorical nature. It is the usual story of vengeance, a story invented after the true account of the death of Muhammad Ghori at the hands of Gakkhar assassins on the south bank of the Indus had been forgotten. The real manner of Prithvirāja’s death, however, still remains a mystery like that of Bhaosaheb or Jankoji Scindia at Panipat The two accounts of the Taj and Tabakat differ. The latter merely records that “Pithaura alighted from his elephant, mounted a horse and galloped off but he was captured near Sarsuti and sent to hell”. The Taj, however, records (p. 215) that the Rai of Ajmer was taken prisoner and his life was spared. At Ajmer where he was taken, he was detected in an intrigue (*which is only obscurely hinted*) and orders were, therefore, given for his being beheaded and a sword accordingly severed the head of that accursed wretch from his body”. In this state of the evidence, it is difficult to decide how Prithvirāj met his death; but we prefer to believe that Prithvirāja was captured on the Sarsuti and immediately put to death as the Tabakat relates.