Page:The Indian Antiquary Vol 2.djvu/352

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314 THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY. [November, 1873. into the bastion. The following duho is said regarding this:—

The Charan climbed the rope to beg the head in the fort. Thus the desire of Dyas Ra of Sorath was never frustrated. The Charan was asked by Ra Dyas to name his own reward, and demanded as his guerdon the head of the RA, and the Ra consented to give it to him. In the meantime, however, Sorath Rani was informed that a Charan had gained access to the Ra, and that he had asked for the Ra’s head. She accordingly came quick¬ ly to the bastion where the Ra was confined, and thus addressed the Charan:—

Oh ! Sir Beggar, thou art both my father and my brother. I will give thee horses, bracelets, elephants, and messengers,— I will even give thee the necklace from off my neck, if thou wilt give up my Sardhar. The Charan however replied :—

There are here many elephants and many horses also in the stables. I have no lack of them, but give mo now the beloved head. At this time the sister of Ra Dyas, hearing of what had happened, came to the bastion, and thinking it was useless to attempt to disauade her brother she thus addressed him :—

Brother, cut off your head and give it to the beggar To the munificent to act thus is sweet as khir, to the miser it is most difficult. Last of all came the mother of Ra Dyas, and she too, seeing his fixed determination, encour- .aged him and addressed to him this duJu):

If thou give not, 0 Dyas, thy head to the beggar, How will the Bhats and Kinnaras be able to praise thee hereafter ? After this Ra Dyas caused his head to be cut off and given to the Charan. The Charan receiv¬ ed the Ra’s head and was carrying it off, when Sorath Rani demanded it of him as a gift. As sat had come upon her, the ChAran dared not refuse, and accordingly gave her the Ra’s head. Sorath Rani took the head, and coming to the Damodar Kund caused a pile to be constructed, and there became a sati. The King of Pattan after the death of Ra Dyas easily became master of the city. The King of Pattan now placed a Thanadar in Junagadh and returned to Pattan. The second Queen of Ra Dyas was of the Waja tribe, who are still to be found at Jhanjmir. She and her son Noghan were resid¬ ing at Wan thali, as it was held ominous for RA DyAs to see the face of his son until he were twelve years of age. After the conquest of JunAgadh by the RAja of Pattan, Rajbui, for that was the name of the Waji, concealed her son Noghan at the house of Devait Bodar, an Ahir of Alidar Bodidhar. The brother of Devait was at enmity with him, and informed the King of Pattan’s ThAnadar at Junagadh that Noghan was concealed in Devait’s house. The Thanadar at once sent for Devait and demanded the surrender of Noghan. Devait replied that he knew nothing of Noghan, but in case he might have come to his house he would send a note directing him to be sent. He then wrote this couplet and gave it to the messenger:—

The cart has sunk. The driver must be protect¬ ed at all hazards. O grandson of Uda! give your shoulder and raise it up. When this couplet was read, the Ahirs collect¬ ed together at Devait Bodar’s house and pre¬ pared to fight. The Thanadar, however, becom¬ ing impatient as Noghan did not come, went