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 HENRY W. SAGE 
 
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Cornell University Library 
 PK 2085.G81 
 
 The heroes five (Pan=MiiiRiWiiilllllllflllS 
 
 3 1924 023 109 337 
 
Cornell University 
 Library 
 
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 tlie Cornell University Library. 
 
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 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924023109337 
 
THE 
 
 HEROES FIVE 
 
 (PANCHON PIR) 
 
 AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT SOME OF 
 
 THE SONGS OF THE PACHPIRYA 
 
 BALLAD-MONGERS IN THE 
 
 BENARES DIVISION 
 
 Bf 
 
 R. GREEVEN, B.A. {Oxon.) 
 
 Of the Bengal Civil Service and of the Inner Temple 
 
 Barrister-at-Law and Member of the Asiatic 
 
 Society of Bengal 
 
 ALL A HAS A D 
 
 IRINTED AT THE PIONEER PRESS 
 18 9 8 
 
^ [j-^^%%'^ 
 
TO THE BEST OF FRIENDS AND COLLECTORS 
 
 M, Croofte, Bsq. 
 
 IN MEMORY OF MANY HAPPY DAYS AT MIRZAPORB 
 BY HIS OLD ASSISTANT AND PUPIL. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 Preface 
 
 Part I.— The Birth of the Warrior Saint 
 „ II.— The Demon Palih^r 
 „ III. — The Lay of Saint Amina 
 „ IV.— The Quest of the Mare Lilli 
 „ v.— The Downfall of King Ban4r 
 „ VI.— The Warrior Saint's Wedding 
 
 Page 
 vii 
 I 
 17 
 53 
 73 
 97 
 "7 
 
PREFACE 
 
 A good wine needs no bush ; and my very few readers 
 will probably prefer to read the story of the " Heroes Five," 
 as sung by their native minstrels, to any puft or rigmarole, 
 with which I could label it. The songs, which I have 
 attempted to collect, are not the bantlings of the closet, and 
 certainly have not come into contact with the midnight 
 lamp to savour of it. To most of them I first listened 
 while nodding over my hookah at a blazing camp-fire, or on 
 the verandah of an indigo factory, out and away in the 
 Benares District. Rather than assume a cheap and tawdry 
 scholarship, I have endeavoured to reproduce them in all 
 their uncouthness of metre and grammar, even where 
 these " would have made Quintilian stare and gasp." This 
 is as much as can be expected from a humdrum civilian, 
 whose work lies more with the " human document " than 
 with musty treatises of prosody and grammar. It was my 
 good fortune to serve for some months under Mr. Crooke, 
 whose name has long been a household expression among 
 students of folklore, and whose suggestion and encourage- 
 ment alone induced me to collect the disjecta membra 
 from my note-books. I desire to acknowledge, with the 
 greatest gratitude, the able and untiring assistance which 
 I have received from the following gentlemen : — 
 
 (i) Munshi Baha-ud-din, Qaniingo. 
 (ii) Pancjit Bhan Pratap Tiwari. 
 (iii) Lala Sevak Rim, Peshkar. 
 (iv) Laia Shiushankar L^l, Ahlmad. 
 
 (v) Lala Gaya Prash^d, Qaniingo. 
 (vi) Munshi Shiupargash Sinh, Qandngo. 
 
 Mussoorie, 2nd August, 1892. R. GREEVEN. 
 
PART I. 
 THE BIRTH OF THE WARRIOR SAINT. 
 
PART I. 
 THE BIRTH OF THE WARRIOR SAINT. 
 
 THE worship of the " Heroes Five," which numbers its 
 votaries by the thousands, is perhaps the most in- 
 teresting in India, because it represents a complete com- 
 promise between Tslim and Hinduism, in which the low-caste 
 disciples of either equally participate. It is no portion, how- 
 ever, of my present purpose to discuss the religious aspects 
 of the legend further than is strictly necessary to introduce 
 the story. The " Heroes Five" originally represented the 
 quintette of Saints, revered by Shia Mussulmans, but 
 degraded into practical idolatry. There are two current 
 theories with respect to the origin of the worship : — 
 
 (i.) That low-caste converts to Isl^m themselves de- 
 graded its purer doctrines into a species of more intelligible 
 idolatry. 
 
 (ii.) That the Hindu low-castes, under the influence 
 of terror, deified certain of the earlier Mussulman con- 
 querors, into whose worship the humbler converts, never 
 wholly emancipated from idolatry, relapsed by an easy 
 passage. 
 
 Whichever opinion be correct, the feature of principal 
 interest is undisputed that, even among Hindu disciples, 
 the Mussulman origin of the worship is never for a moment 
 forgotten. Thus the villagers speak of the quintette as 
 the Mussulman deities {Mussulmdni deotdr), and, without 
 exception, have the ceremonies performed by Mussulman 
 drummers ( daffdlts ), who constitute a professional and 
 
( 4 ) 
 
 hereditary priesthood. Of course, it must not be supposed 
 that the original Shia quintette is still worshipped. On 
 the other hand, they have been replaced by local heroes, 
 varying in every district. Ghazl Miy^ri or the Warrior 
 Saint is, however, the centre around which the heroic 
 legend revolves. As a matter of history, he was the son 
 of SihCl Salar and his wife Mamal, and the nephew of 
 Mahmfld of Ghazni, whom he accompanied on his famous 
 invasions of Hindustan. He was killed on the day of his 
 wedding during a popular rising of Hindus at Bahraich, at the 
 age of eighteen, and has ever since been revered under the 
 title of the "Prince of Martyrs" {Sultdnu-sh-shuhadd.) 
 The outlines of his history, as chronicled in popular trea- 
 tises, such as the Mirdt-i-Mas'Adt, are observed to this 
 extent that an annual pilgrimage (medni) departs from all 
 quarters in time to visit Bahraich on Jeth Sudi 6th, in order 
 to commemorate the Hero's marriage with offerings of 
 miniature bedsteads and settles (palang pirhl), supposed to 
 represent the wedding presents. With this preface, which 
 is no doubt prosy, the exploits of the Warrior Saint and 
 his comrades, as described in the ballades here collected, 
 may be allowed to speak for themselves. 
 
 BALLADE L 
 M^mal 'arf kare Rabb se : mori suno bit, kartir. 
 
 Binti karfln us khiwind se, Mauli, Vyk bidh likhd 
 lilar. 
 
 Daulat dunyi hai bahutere iski nihin shumir. 
 Lekin ek bans bini merS. bi-1-kull jag andhy&r. 
 Man meft bintt kare Mimal ; nit sihib par lau li, i 
 Tfihi milik khiliq hai jag ki ; sab khilqat, Rabb, teri 
 
 bani, t. 
 Sabhi cil aulid diho, mohe pipin diho bisri, \. 
 
 Tarpe hiyi, ji, a mor luhke, ai sShib, ham kekar 
 farzand khik, i. 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 ]kt kt Bhuja, in o Dhoba, in moht tina marefi : " Sun, 
 Mamal, tflhl Rabb ne bafljh ban4, t. 
 
 10. Pahunchat bin, ban mohe mira, phati dhartt, chat 
 se jati, iih sama, 1. 
 
 Tanik bhar kant tani ko, i deta, ai sakhiya, main kha, 
 e zahar marja, 1. 
 
 Hai kgti agam mor sClna, ai Pancho, mohe ab awe bil 
 kha, i. 
 
 Daulat duny-a mai khazana mere b'ad yih kaun bilse 
 merl kami, i. 
 
 Jab se ningori donon tana mara, tab se awe mori 
 rola, t. 
 
 Ko, t Saidant rahl gun} Mamal ko diya samjha, i. 
 
 Sun, Mamal, 'ahm tu itna, aisa jiu dil kyofi ghabra, t. 
 
 Mori bachan sun Mayya Mamal, liyo kufit gathiya, i, 
 
 Roza numaz dharo dhyan sab tan man di, o jala, i. 
 
 Chor di, o soch fikr sab dil ka dharo dhyan us kha- 
 wind par, jin sabka bans chala, i. 
 
 20. Jih din mihr kare Rabb khawind, pal men Mamal 
 debi god bhara, 1. 
 
 Marzi hu, i pak parwar ka, ek din unko sapana diya 
 
 dikha, 1. 
 Garh Ajmer dher khwaja ke, wahan ja, o, Mamal, 
 
 pa, o murad bari, a, i. 
 
 BALLADE II. 
 
 Dekh khwab Mayya Mamal dil ko kiya bahai, 
 
 Khassa cjoia phanke Mamal chalti hu, \ nihal. 
 
 Hot bihan saman kar Mamal khassa cjola phanawe. , 
 
 Daulat dam sham kar Mamal chhakron par lacjwawe. 
 
 Manzil, manzil chalti Mamal bahutai dan lutawe. 
 
 Nange ko bastar deti Mamal bhflkhe khana khilawc, 
 
 Jake utrtfi hujra men, wuh Allah pir manawe. 
 
 30. Pahunchi pas khass hujre ke jhuk jhuk sijda nawe. 
 
 Karke safa, i jigar jama ko, tab andar ko jawe. 
 
 Chau-mukh bar dhara rau^e men 'itr-i-gulab chhir- 
 kawe ; 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 Pin phfll sin batAsa kh^ssa Mkmal chadar rdmil 
 charhfiwe. 
 
 Khol muhr rakh dlha chiraghi sinni khatam kar^we. 
 
 Parh darCld huzClr pir ke, Rabb se khari bakhshiwe. 
 
 Mint! karen cjaren m^lik se, apnA dard sun^we. 
 
 BALLADE IIL 
 
 Hft, 4 hukm Haqq Ta'aia ka, aur dlya Plr farma, e : 
 
 Zinda Madir ka shewa kar Mamal shahar Makanpflr 
 ja, e. 
 
 Garh Ajmer shahar se Mamal shahar Makanpdr jati. 
 
 40. Rasta pCichh kflch kiya dera lekin man men pachhtati. 
 
 Na jane kya likha Bidhata mert donofi afikh phahati. 
 
 Kisi s(irat rat din Mamal jatt wahafl nagich atl. 
 
 Bare sawere cjher lag pahunchi, jake adab bajati ; 
 
 Chashmon se qadamofi ko chfima, aur apna dard 
 sunati : 
 
 Meri arzft yihi galani, du' a karo us kbawind se, meri 
 kokh khul jati : 
 
 Anchar khule mile balak du' a det ghar jati. 
 
 Ek bans bin siin safls mujhe nahin kuchh dunya 
 bhatt. 
 
 Zinda Madar jagat jag gahir turant jawab wahaft 
 pati: 
 
 Tert ans nahin likha bans Mamal na haqq mujhe 
 satati ; 
 
 50. Jise p(it Mahbab diya na, sun, Mamal ! use kaun 
 kare ahwati ? 
 
 Diya socha, e : ja, o ghar apne, na haqq badan 
 jalati. 
 
 Ga, i phrClt, tftt ga, i qismat, ulta pachhara khati ; 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 Qismat thofik wahAfi se chali MSmal mafi maltn ki, e 
 
 jati. 
 
 Jamun Jatl pir se cjaure, unhen dekh dard bahu iti, 
 
 LiyA bula, e ji,-e Mamal ko : Turn nk haqq ho ghab- 
 rati ; 
 
 DiyA dilasa ; sun Mamal ! Turn nfi haqq ka ghabriti ? 
 
 BALLADE IV. 
 
 Bilft khidmat 'agmat nihin p^we, chAhe &we dunyA 
 taha, e. 
 
 China bandh dhy^n se Mamal, leo Plr se ja, e. 
 
 Zinda Madar jagat jag gahir, jin se xkj,\ hai Khuda, e 
 
 60, Jo jo gaya wahafi sukh pawa, tumhu,(an leo lau la, e. 
 China kasi khushl se Mamal, kaha Ptr se jake god 
 
 pasart, 
 Lat chhitka, e ja, e chaukhath par palkan tjher buhart, 
 Ranta baran, badan ko apna Mamal dhan ja, e kai 
 
 (jara. 
 
 Tin baras khidmat kiya Mamal sat sukrit nahtn tara. 
 
 Lag! dard dekh ek din tab bole Pir pyara : 
 
 Parha darfld du, 'a kiya Rabb se, Ai khawind, tuhi se ek 
 sukhn ham (jara. 
 
 Aisa ma'lflm hCia Pir ko, ab Khaliq hukm diya Sattara ; 
 
 Mukh bhar du'a dia Mamal ko, Mansha ptiran kiya 
 tumhara. 
 
 Jo, banjhin, ho, e tere bans, mujhe de, o dikhai le, o 
 nar bewara. 
 70, Kiya salam nam liya Rabb ka chali a, i Mamal apne 
 du, ara. 
 
( 8 ) 
 
 BALLADE V. 
 
 Pahunchi gk, ofl pa, ofl hfl, & bhari, bit gayA mas ath- 
 
 wira, 
 Nawwafl mas khaias bha, e, raham kiya Kartara. 
 
 Beta hfl, a Mamal ko, sflrat Rabb ne ap sanwara ; 
 
 Bha, e khushihaii upajanwait, hfl, a agam ufijyara. 
 
 Yih sun Nona Chamarin a, J, nar chhin, paisa bahu pa,t, 
 du'a det apne ghar jawe bihase baram bara. 
 
 Hansi kbfishi 'aiim aweft, khol kitab nam batiawefl ; 
 " Jiwen Mamal tera Gajan, Pir dulara ! " 
 
 Naubat bajtt, bihase dharti, baje cjhol nagara. 
 
 Hota nach rawa, ish chhutti urne laga ghubbara. 
 
 Bhafit bhant hot tamasa khana bate mahall bich 
 khassa ; ko, i gburaba na phire nirasa, 'atr se basa 
 jitne pir nirasa ; 
 
 80. Sohila uthe, lutawen paisa, mangan jhnke, des ke 
 baithe pir du, ara. 
 
 Aisa nam kiya Mamal charon mulk ke bha'e nihai 
 
 bhikhara. 
 Kiya khiyai, phana liya doia, beta dekhawan chali 
 
 Mamal Pir darbara ; 
 
 Kiya singhar, bar guhe moti, beta le Mamal bhar godi, 
 diya dikha, e ; tab jhajke Pir Madara : 
 
 " Mor kahana mani Mamal, mare tor beta jih din jawe 
 saflwara ! " 
 
 Ga, i thukra, i, ja, e sharma, 1, jaise bijli ko, i mara, 
 
 Aflsfl chale lag Mamal ko, jaise Rabb barse bara. 
 
 87. Bina qusflr Pir mose r(lthe, phClta karam hamara ! 
 
( 9 ) 
 BALLADE L 
 
 Mamal besought the Lord, saying : " Give ear unto 
 my prayer, Maker of heaven and earth I 
 
 Fain would I beseech the Almighty in these words : 
 Lord, what destiny is inscribed on my forehead ? 
 
 Treasure and broad acres have I in plenty — nay, be- 
 yond all reckoning ; 
 
 But all for lack of one child all the world is darkened 
 
 to me." 
 Thus in her heart prayed M^mal, ever fixing her 
 
 thoughts upon the Lord : 
 
 " Thou art the King and Creator of this world. All 
 creation. Lord, is thine handiwork. 
 
 Unto all hast thou granted offspring ; only me, poor 
 sinner, hast thou forgotten ! 
 
 My heart trembleth and my soul yearneth, Master, 
 whose babe shall I suckle ? 
 
 Women, that are but a grain-parcher and a clothes- 
 washer by caste, mock me, saying : List, Mimal, the 
 Lord hath created thee a barren stock. 
 
 lO. And as they gird at me 'tis as though they wounded 
 me with an arrow. Would that the earth would 
 rend and I might straightway be buried ! 
 
 Would some one but give me a pinch of diamond-dust, 
 O handmaiden, I would taste its venom and die. 
 
 Before me all the future is blank, ye Judges, now upon 
 
 me woe doth settle. 
 Wealth and lands, and goods and treasure, when I am 
 
 gone, who will enjoy these mine earnings ? 
 
 When those two hags girded at me, 'twas from that 
 moment that tears began to flow." 
 
( 10 ) 
 
 Yet there was a Sayyid's wife, who was prudent, and 
 she reasoned with MSmal, saying : 
 
 " List, Mamal, so wise art thou ! then why is thine 
 heart so distraught ? 
 
 List unto my words, mother Mamal ; gird up thy gar- 
 ments in a knot ; 
 
 On prayer and fasting fix thou every thought — nay, 
 consume thy very body and soul as it were with fire. 
 
 Away with all for which thine heart cares and yearns. 
 Rivet thy thoughts upon that Lord, who first started 
 the generation of all mankind on its course. 
 
 20. What time the Lord thy God shall show thee mercy' 
 in a twinkling, Mamal, will he fill thy womb." 
 The stainless Patron so willed it that one day he 
 vouchsafed unto her a vision, saying : 
 
 "In Ajmer is a shrine of the Prophet ; hie thee thither, 
 MAmal, and gain thy desire in spite of all." 
 
 BALLADE IL 
 
 When mother Mamal beheld the vision, her heart was 
 comforted ; 
 
 And a rare litter Mamal made ready and set forth 
 right merrily ; 
 
 At peep of day Mamal bade them make ready a rare 
 litter. 
 
 All the wealth and treasure of Damascus M&mal bade 
 them load upon their wains. 
 
 From stage to stage, as MSmal travelled, she made 
 the crowd to scramble for largess ; 
 
 On the naked MSmal bestowed garments, and before 
 the hungry she placed a banquet. 
 
( II ) 
 
 And so she alighted and entered the shrine and called 
 upon the holy man of God : 
 
 30. But as she came unto the inmost shrine she beat her 
 head again and again upon the floor in prayer ; 
 And 'twas not till she had cleansed both her heart and 
 her garments that she entered ; 
 
 A four-wicked lamp she kindled, and in the fane she 
 placed it and sprinkled rose-water around ; 
 
 Betel and flowers and sweetmeats and the daintiest of 
 comfits M^mal offered, besides a mantle and a ker- 
 chief; 
 
 Then took she forth a gold-noble and laid it down as 
 lamp-money, and bade them set the seal upon the 
 offering of sweetmeats : 
 
 A blessing she invoked upon the Saint and stood up 
 to pray unto the Lord ; 
 
 And with fear at heart she entreated the Master and 
 poured her woes into his ear. 
 
 BALLADE HI, 
 
 This was the hest of the Lord Almighty, and thus 
 the Saint charged her : 
 
 " To the City of Makanpur hie thee, Mdmal, and do 
 obeisance to the Living Saint ; " 
 
 From Ajmer's embattled city Mamal journeyed unto 
 the City of Makanpur ; 
 
 40. The road she asked as she struck her tent, but full 
 troubled was she in heart : 
 
 " I wist not," she whispered, " what the Lord hath 
 written in my destiny, for both mine eyelids quiver : " 
 
 As best she might, Mimal wandered on night and 
 day, until she drew nigh unto her goal. 
 
( 12 ) 
 
 At earliest dawn she came unto the shrine and 
 straightway did honour unto it ; 
 
 With her eyes she kissed the Saint's feet, and poured 
 
 her woes into his ear : 
 " This is my longing and this my yearning ; pray for 
 
 me to the most High, then will my womb be 
 
 unbound : 
 
 Were but my garb unloosed and a child granted 
 unto me, I would hie me home singing prayers of 
 thanksgiving. 
 
 All for the lack of a child the whole universe is empty, 
 and even this world giveth me no pleasure." 
 
 The presence of the Living Saint throughout the 
 world is ever manifest, and straightway she received 
 this answer : — 
 
 " On the scroll of thy fate, Mamal, offspring is not 
 written. 'Tis all for nought that thou dost harry me. 
 
 SO. The woman unto whom the Loved One hath vouchsafed 
 no child, say, Mamal ! who shall make her a mother ? " 
 
 And he bade her reflect, saying : " Away to thy home, 
 for 'tis all for nought that thou consumest thy body 
 as with fire." 
 
 Crushed sank Mimal ; for her fortunes were shattered, 
 
 and she fell backwards ; " 
 Then, hardened to brave the worst, M^mal hied her 
 
 forth with her heart clouded. 
 
 But the nun Jamun hurried from the shrine, and, see- 
 ing that sorrow was heavy upon her, drew nigh. 
 
 And called her to her side, saying : " 'Tis all for nought 
 that thou art thus sorrowful : " 
 
 And again she solaced her, saying : " List, M4mal, all 
 for nought why art thou thus sorrowful ? 
 
( 13 ) 
 
 BALLADE IV. 
 
 Without abasement thou shalt not attain eminence, 
 even though thou traverse the universe : 
 
 For forty days do thou fast and meditate, M^mal, and 
 so wring thy desire from the Saint, 
 
 Throughout the world doth the Living Saint mani- 
 fest himself ; for with him the Lord is pleased : 
 60. Whoso hath journeyed unto him hath ever won repose. 
 Do thou, too, make up thy mind to earn thy hope." 
 
 Right gladly gan Mimal to fast for forty days, and 
 unto the Saint she poured out her woes and thrust 
 her womb before him ; 
 
 And all dishevelled her tresses, flung herself on the 
 threshold and swept the shrine with her eyelashes ; 
 
 Unkempt and unwashed M^mal there suffered her 
 body to become. 
 
 For three years drudged M4mal, nor put aside her 
 devotion, 
 
 Till one day the Saint was touched with pity at the 
 sight and spake unto her kindly, 
 
 And gave her his blessing, and prayed unto the Lord, 
 saying : " Master, fain would I crave a word with 
 Thee : " 
 
 Then it was revealed unto the Saint that even now 
 the Creator hath vouchsafed the prayer : 
 
 So a goodly blessing he called down on Mamal, say- 
 ing : " Thy longing hath the Lord fulfilled ; 
 
 " Yet the child, that, barren as thou art, shall be bom 
 unto thee, see thou show unto me, ere thou cut the 
 navel string." 
 
 70. Then M^mal made obeisance and called upon the 
 name of the Lord and came unto her doorstep. 
 
( 14 ) 
 
 BALLADE V. 
 
 She came unto her hamlet and her step grew heavy 
 and eight moons passed, 
 
 And in the ninth moon she was delivered, and upon 
 her the Maker of heaven and earth had mercy. 
 
 And a man-child was born unto Mamal, and the Lord 
 fashioned his face after his own image : 
 
 Then was there all the gladness of a birthday, and 
 the future dawned sunbright ; 
 
 When Nona, the cobbler's wife, heard the tidings, she 
 hurried in and filched away the navel-string. A 
 goodly fee she won, and as with prayers of thanks- 
 giving she set forth to her home, again and again 
 she broke into laughter ; 
 
 With a merry smirk came the sages, and, unfolding the 
 writ, thus declared the child's name : " Long life, 
 M&mal, to thy Warrior Saint beloved I " 
 
 Then music pealed and fireworks burst and balloons 
 gan fly ; 
 
 Divers were the pageants, dainty viands were dis- 
 pensed in the courtyard of the palace. Not a beggar 
 turned away dejected. Nay, the most dejected of 
 friars was fragrant with rose-water. 
 
 80. Loud rang the nuptial hymns. They flung largess 
 for the crowd to scramble. Down after it dashed the 
 beggars. All the sages of the realm sat at the portals. 
 
 Such a name did M^mal win by her largess that in 
 all four quarters of the realm the beggars exulted. 
 
 On a sudden she bethought her. Then she bade them 
 make ready a litter ; and Mimal hied her forth to 
 show her son unto the Saint of the shrine. 
 
( IS ) 
 
 All her jewels she donned. Even on her .tresses she 
 strung pearls. Thus did Mamal take her son into 
 her lap and hold him up. Then the Saint cried in 
 wrath : — 
 
 "Scant heed hast thou paid to my hest, M4mal. 
 Therefore shall thy son perish on the day whereon 
 he shall be decked for the wedding ! " 
 
 Thus was she spurned from the threshold. She crept 
 away in shame, even as one smitten by a thunder- 
 bolt. 
 
 Mimal's tears gan course, even as the Lord maketh 
 the rain to fall. 
 
 87. " For no crime,'' she sobbed, " is the Saint wroth 
 against me. Blasted is all my destiny ! " 
 
PART II. 
 THE DEMON PALIHAR. 
 
PART II. 
 THE DEMON PALIHAR. 
 
 THE demon Palihar is the merry-andrew of the legends 
 of the " Heroes Five." The scheme of his story is 
 of course merely a popular reproduction of the Ramayana, 
 from which some of the characters, such as Madodari and 
 Mahirawan, are bodily pilfered. Upon this is grotesquely 
 engrafted a tradition of the Prophet, utilized for the 
 device by which the demon is captured. Nothing can 
 better illustrate the scrap-book character of popular reli- 
 gion than the inscription by which (1. 235) the minstrel 
 describes himself as inspired by the Hindu Goddess of 
 Learning to sing the praises of Muslim heroes. In this 
 connection I may remark that the trident {sang) carried 
 by these heroes has been plagiarised from the three-prong- 
 ed sceptre {tirsM') of Siva, in accordance with a fixed policy 
 to assimilate whatever is too popular to be displaced. The 
 peg, by the way, by which the minstrel has hooked on the 
 whole episode, is not apparent from the poem. It must 
 be supposed that Sahu Salar, brother-in-law of Mahmud 
 of Ghazni, and father of the Warrior Saint, in digging 
 the foundations of a watch-house, has unearthed the de- 
 mon KauryA Deo, in terror of whom the courtiers are all 
 afraid to accept the office of High Bailiff. The remainder 
 of the story is plain-sailing, and the text presents little diffi- 
 culty, though a capital play upon words between the verb 
 badhnd = to slaughter, and the substantive badhnd = a liquor- 
 cup, cannot be reproduced in English, except perhaps by 
 some variant of the frivolous expression " to go to pot " 
 (1.1. 153,212). 
 
( 20 ) 
 
 THE BIRTH OF PALIHlR. 
 (Text.) 
 
 Nadt kinHre, Sompat gr^m, 
 
 Wahan ki Brahman ka Anflpa nam. 
 
 Nit uth Aniipa samundar nahcl, e, 
 
 Anchara kholke sflraj mana, e, 
 
 Wuht men MarcM danuka rath chale 4, e, 
 
 Marcha d^nfi ke blj se Anflpa ka garabh rahja, e 
 
 Pahil mahina ke bandha tir ; 
 
 D(asar mahJna uthe Adham sarir ; 
 
 Tlsar mahina, wuh mahina gardan ; 
 lO. Chautha mahina char-pakhauri saman ; 
 
 Panchwefi mahina panch-chihia naha, e ; 
 
 Chhatten mahina chha-chihia kara, e ; 
 
 Satwen mas satwansa ho, e ; 
 
 Athwen mas janme nahin ko, i ; 
 
 Janabfl kare, to ji, e nahin ko, i ; 
 
 Ji, abfl kare, to khair nahin ho, e ; 
 
 Nawweii mas nau-nandan ho, e ; 
 
 Daswefi janm Palihar ki ho, e ; 
 
 Janme Palihar Bahmania ke khokh, 
 20. Dunya mail un bha, e anokh : 
 
 " Rishi Jashi donoii pandit buia, o, 
 
 Yih larka ki sa, at bata, o ! " 
 
 Kholin pothi Bed Puran 
 
 Pahil nam Purgahna dharan : 
 
 Dflsar nam Chhatri Palihar : 
 
 Tisar nam Nirmal Sardar : 
 
 " Kha, en murgha, darQ piia, o ! " 
 
 Tab jag bore Bahman ka na, o : 
 
 " Na, } cherii, i, na, i pare, i manga, o ; 
 30. Nar bewar Palihar ke kasa, o ; 
 
 Leke phenkho samundar ke khor, 
 
 Jahan unchi bahut ganghor 1 " 
 
( 21 ) 
 
 Chi, untt ke kkte Mlak utha ro, e. 
 
 " Tar bahe more, flpar gh4m bahut ho, e." 
 
 Garh Lank^ ki Rani Madodar chali samundar naha, e. 
 
 Sone kt katori phCllel sakhi sab kare batwa, i. 
 
 SakM das age, sakhi das p^chhe, sakhi das lihan ko- 
 hani lagS, e : 
 
 Hath men loty^, kandhe par dhotyH, MungyS launcji 
 ke lihan buia, e. 
 
 Ja, e ke pahunche samundar kin^r, 
 
 40. Jahan ro, at ba, e larka fighir ; 
 
 " Mungya ! Mungya ! " kahi guhara, e, 
 
 " Kekar larka ro, at ba, e ? " 
 
 Tab Mungya pahunchi hai ja, e. 
 
 Larka se kahat ba, e guhara, e : 
 
 " Ki til bhutwa, ki parbatwa, ki cja, in ho, e, bhachho 
 munh ? " 
 
 " Na main bhutwa, na parbatwa, na cja, in ho, e, bhachho 
 tunh ! " 
 
 " Main to Marcha dknii ka p<at, 
 
 Kha, ufi murgha, pi, (an daru bahut." 
 
 Mungya laundi Rani lag a, € 
 50. Rani se Mungya kahi samjha, i. 
 
 Tab Madodar pahunchi hai ja, e 
 
 Cherfl, i kandhe par liya utha, e. 
 
 Rani Madodar Lanka men le a, i ; 
 
 Rani Madodar diha daka pitwa, i : 
 
 " Jekar larka, leja utha, e ! " 
 
 Jab kehft nahin kahe ki larka herayal ba, e. 
 
 Tab Rani Madodar diha nir chinhwa, i ; 
 
 Rani Madodar baithi hai sauri men ja, d. 
 
 " Shewa karab main chit la, e." 
 60. Panch baras shewa men biti ja, e; 
 
 Chhatwan baras jab pahuncha a, e 
 
 Tab Palihar apan kala diha dikha, e. 
 
 Tab chha mahina murgha darii kha, e. 
 64. Aur chha mahina nind usko a, e. 
 
( 22 ) 
 
 THE BIRTH OF PALIHlR. 
 
 (translation.) 
 
 On a river's bank stands the hamlet of Sompat ; 
 
 And there dwelt a Brahman damsel, whose name was 
 Anflpa, 
 
 Day by day would AnflpS bathe in the ocean, 
 
 And lay aside her veil, as she worshipped the sun ; 
 
 At such a moment passed the chariot of the demon 
 Marcha — 
 
 Enough ! by the seed of the demon Marcha, Anflpi 
 was left big with child. 
 
 The first month soon is past. 
 
 In the second month, the trouble 'gins rise in the body : 
 
 The third month — well, that month comes and goes ; 
 
 lO. In the fourth month, they say : " She is four months 
 gone ; " 
 In the fifth month, she observed the five months' 
 bathing ; 
 
 And in the sixth month, the six months' bathing ; 
 
 In the seventh month, a seven months' child may see 
 the light ; 
 
 In the eighth month no child is born ; 
 
 Or, if born, he never liveth ; 
 
 Or, if he live, bodeth good to none ; 
 
 In the ninth month, a nine-month's child may see the 
 light. 
 
 But 'twas in the tenth month that Palihar was born ; 
 
 True, it is that Palihir was born of a Brahman 
 maiden's womb, 
 
 20. Yet throughout the world he was fated to be a por- 
 tent. 
 
 " Call me up," cried the mother, " the two sages Rishi 
 and Jashi, 
 
 Cast me the horoscope of this child." 
 
 So they unfolded the volumes of their Vedas and 
 Furanas : 
 
( 23 ) 
 
 The first name, which they gave, was Purgahni ; 
 The second name was the Warrior Palih^r ; 
 The third name was the Stainless Chief — 
 
 " I want a cock to eat," yelled the child, " and give 
 me a drink of grog ! " 
 
 In that one moment he trampled to earth his name 
 of Brahman : 
 
 " Bring me," cried the mother, " a new pot and a new 
 cover ; 
 
 30. Tie me up this Palihir with navel-string and all. 
 
 Take him and fling him into a cavern of the ocean, 
 
 where the whirlpool is deepest ! " 
 An ant bit the child. Then he awoke and cried : 
 
 " Why, water is gushing beneath me and the sun is 
 beating on my head ! " 
 
 Madodar, Queen of Lafiki's fort, was wending her 
 way to the sea shore to bathe. 
 
 And from golden phials all her handmaidens were 
 scattering perfume, 
 
 Ten handmaidens before, ten handmaidens behind, 
 ten handmaidens at her elbow to support her. 
 
 In her hand an ewer, over her shoulder a coif, she 
 
 called the damsel Mungyi : 
 So she came unto the sea shore, 
 
 40. Even where the child was crying deserted. 
 
 " Mungya ! Mungy^ ! " she called aloud : 
 
 " Whose child is crying ? " 
 
 Then Mungya hied her thither. 
 
 And unto the child she called aloud : 
 
 "Art thou an ogre, or a mountain, or some hobgob- 
 lin that would devour me?" 
 
 " No ogre I," laughed the child, " nor mountain, nor 
 hobgoblin that would devour thee ; 
 
 I am but the son of the demon March^, 
 
 And I would like a cock to eat and a good drink of 
 
 grog ! " 
 The damsel Mungyi came unto the queen, 
 
( 24 ) 
 
 50. And unto the queen Mungy^ told her tale. 
 And straightway Madodar hied her thither, 
 And took up the pot upon her shoulder ; 
 Even into Lanka Queen Madodar carried it. 
 
 There did Queen Madodar bid them proclaim by 
 
 beat of drum : 
 " Whoso is the mother of this child, let her take him 
 
 away ! " 
 When none answered : " My child is lost," 
 Then Queen Madodar bade them even ask if none 
 
 knew the navel-string for her own ; 
 At last Queen Madodar sat her down in her birth- 
 chamber, saying : — 
 " Verily, I will cherish this child with all my heart ! " 
 60. So five years fled as she cherished the child. 
 But none the less when the sixth year came. 
 Then Palih^r 'gan shew his native tricks. 
 For six months he would gorge on cocks and grog, 
 64. And then for six months he would fall asleep. 
 
( 25 ) 
 
 palihar's capture. 
 
 BALLADE /. 
 
 Sahu Sal^r kahi ek bit : " Mera aisi ko, i nahin, Kauria 
 
 ko mar giriwe ? " 
 Battis pin ki bira laga, e, majlis ke bich rakhawe. 
 " Hai ko, 1 jawin pan ko khawe, Kauria ko mir 
 
 giriwe ? 
 
 Jo ko, i mare Kauria deo ko, Garh Gajan ki de, 
 6n Kotwilt ! liki mansab bahut barMwe." 
 
 Bhale bhale jawan baithe majlis men, lige nagar 
 
 chhipiwe, 
 Nam suni Kauria deo ka, ek ek uth jiwe. 
 Ghari pahar dfl, e gayi bit, ko, i nahin biri uthawe. 
 Sahta Salar dil kare soch, tab bahut man pachhtiwe. 
 Parhke kitib maktab-khine se Miyin Gajan iwe : 
 
 lO. " Main tumse puchhun, he babi, tu ki man men 
 pachhtiwe ? " 
 
 " Abhi, Bala, ho larke, parhne par dhyan lagiwe." 
 Miyan hata parhte : — " Babi, ham ko zarra batawe." 
 " Beta, mera aisa ko, i nahin, Kauria deo ko mir 
 girawe. 
 
 " Jo ko, 1 mare Kauria deo ko, Garh Gajan ki de, ufi 
 Kotwili ! uka mansab bahut barhiwe." 
 
 Itni bat suna Bala, bahut man pachhtawe. 
 Khol kitab dekhe Bala, tab bahut gyin daurawe. 
 " Sat samundar par hai Nirmal, use pakar ko, i lawe, 
 " Wuhi ji mare Kauria deo ko, wuhi Kotwali pawe." 
 Battis pan ki biri lagi, e, majlis ke bich rakhawe. 
 20. " Hai ko, i jawin pin ko chibe, Garh Laiiki ko 
 jiwe?" 
 
( 26 ) 
 
 Bhale bhale jaw&n baithe majlis men, l^ge nagar 
 chhipiwe. 
 
 Nim suna Garh Lanka ka, sab ke mukh par zardl 
 chhawe. 
 
 Ghari pahar dft, e gayd bit : — " Bha, t, ko, I nahin blri 
 uthawe ? " 
 
 The majlis bhaine 'Ajab Silar, un ja, e bira uthiwe. 
 Khaya pan, an kiya saiam : — " Mamu, ham Lanka ko 
 
 jiwe." 
 Miyan Gajan uthe bol : — " Bha, i, abht 'Ajab, ho 
 
 larke ! turn is khiyal men mat awe." 
 
 BALLADE IL 
 Haikal ghori ko 'Ajab manga, e, sone kt zin kaswawe, 
 Sone kl ztn bant Haikal ki, dumchi par lal jarawe. 
 Kulah taj sir par dete, kamar se tegh lagawe. 
 30. Hfi, e aswar Haikal iipar, mamd ke sis ho awe. 
 
 Miyan Gajan uthe bol : — " Bha, i, abhi, 'Ajab, ho larke \ 
 turn Lanka ko jawe ? 
 
 Jab tum ja, iyo Garh Lanka ko, bahut deo charhe 
 
 awe, 
 Ek ek deo zina ke bandhke, choti sarag lagawe ; 
 
 Ko, i thanak, ko, t garjat awe, Miyan, lil tohe jawe." 
 
 " Majlis ke bich maifi ne khaya pan ; marne se nahin 
 4arawe ! 
 
 " Yehi sir de, fifl Laflka ke btch, ki pakar deo ke lawe." 
 
 Itni bat suna Baia ne, Birahna ke turant bulwae. 
 
 Sayyid Birahna an kiya salam : — " Mohe ka, Baia, far- 
 mawe ? " 
 
 " Bha, i, 'Ajab jate Garh Lafika ko,unkesath tum jawe." 
 
 40. Itnl bat sun Sayyid Birahna loh langar kamar laga we. 
 
 Kat ka softta dhar kandhe par, sang 'Ajab ke jawe. 
 
( 27 ) 
 
 BALLADE IIL 
 
 Sone ka sing leta, 'Ajab jyofi bijli tarapte jiwe. 
 Miyin Gajan uthe hain bol : — " Bha, i, 'Ajab, jate Garh 
 Lanka ke sahib milawe, 
 
 " To hoga didar ! " HCi, e aswar Haikal flpar, mamfi ke 
 s}s ho iwe. 
 
 Phir hft, e aswir Haikal upar, LafikS. men sis lagiwe. 
 Rat dina in kiyS, kuch, chal samundar kinare jawe. 
 Lafiki ki chauki baithi deo, apni makin banawe. 
 jakar sing in diyi gir, tab dhamak sis par jawe. 
 Dil bhitar deo kare fikr, tab bahut gyan daurawe : 
 50. " Kahin ke wait i, e, gari sang, dhamak sis par awe?" 
 " Bhitar se bahar hoti a, e dekh khari ho, e jawe !" 
 Lot pot Brahman hota mithe men tilak lagiwe, 
 Kindh jane, ti, hath lutya, chhal 'Ajab lagiwe. 
 " Main tum se puchhun, he sahib, abtfi kahwan se awe?" 
 
 " Dera hamara Garh Gajan, ham Lanki dekhne ke 
 
 awe.'' 
 " Sone ki Laiika bani, jon ki tumhirl nazar na awe, 
 
 " Nahin, thori si lakri le, o manga, e, use de, o na phufik 
 o tabhi nazar par jawe." 
 
 Itnf bat sun Sayyid Birahna charh ke pahir par jiwe 
 
 Charhe pahir jab Sayyid Birahni, bahut deo charhe 
 
 awe. 
 
 60. Ek ek deo zine ke bandhke chotf sarag lagiwe. 
 
 Ko, i thankat, ko, i garjat awe ; dliar ke lil tohe jawe! 
 
 Chiron taraf se Hya gher, bich Sayyid Birahna ho,e 
 jiwe. 
 
 Chhute bin aur goli, ho, e andhyari iwe. 
 
 Hukm diyi sonte ke ta, in, de, on ke mar giriwe. 
 
 Ko, i langri, ko, i lunja hota, ko, i thanakti awe : 
 
 " Apne sote ko lo, na boliye ! " Thoii lakri farmawe. 
 
 Yih to deo zine ke bindhke lige per hilawe, 
 
 Ek ek per dhara kandhe par, chal 'Ajab lag iwe. 
 
( 28 ) 
 
 BALLADE IV. 
 
 Lakri manga, e 'Ajab bara arar lagawe. 
 
 70. Shukr bhej Haqq Ta'ali ke :— " Rabb ! kg kahan ham 
 pawe? " 
 
 A, e ke qizi diyd phunk ; w^ki lapak asmsln men jawe. 
 
 Jalte ag Lanka dekh, 'Ajab khushi ho' e jawe. 
 
 Tab shukr bhej Haqq Ta 'ali ke : — "Rabb! na, o 
 
 kahan ham pawe ?" 
 Brahman hu, e utha bol : — " Turn aise wall pak mardan 
 
 ki der na, o ke lAwe ? 
 " Nahin, tumh're agaru main ja, <in so, e, meri pith 
 
 charh ke turn j^we." 
 
 Lot pot deo gayi so, e, Lanka men sis lagiwe, 
 Jahwan baithe bhaine'Ajab Salar, uhawan pair jamawe. 
 
 'Ajab Salir ne kahi ek bat: — "Bhi, i Sayyid Birahna 
 
 inki pith charh jawe." 
 Sayyid Birahna uthe bol : — " Abhi, 'Ajab, ho larke 
 
 turn is khiyil mat awe. 
 
 80. " Tumh're ag^rfl yih tha Brahman, aur laut deo ho,e! 
 jiwe. 
 "Jab turn charhiho inki pith, kha, ekarwat, tumhen 
 bich dhar men (JubA, e," 
 
 Mira sorAk Sayyid Birahni ; deo bhag kar jawe. 
 " Kishti {ipar aswar h(a, e, khi, e pher, dugana jawe.'' 
 
 "Tum hameii charha, e leo," kahd, "he, ham LaiiUa 
 dekhan jawe." 
 
 " Meri khari jam&, at Makke ke bich, meri waqt 
 numaz ki awe. 
 
 " Tum aise wali pak mardan kya der n&, o ke l&we ? 
 
 " Nahin, khelo shiU&r dumbe ke, ja, e uski kishti ban- 
 wAwe." 
 
 Itni bat sun, Sayyid Birahni charh ke pah5.r par jiwe, 
 
 Khela shikir dumbe ka, ja, e uski kishti banwAwe. 
 
 90. Nikal kar ant, net na, o pahunchll, e, kurma jofi lagi, e, 
 Bi-smi-llah kar parha durCld : " Tfi, in nosh kar 
 
 khawe!"' ' . 
 
( 29 ) 
 
 Dumbe ki kishti Hy4 bana, e, darya, o bich li, e 
 cjaur&we, 
 
 Pahile charhawe Haikal ghori ke, jab 'Ajab ke charh 
 
 Pichhle charhte Sayyid Birahna Mer^ Maula par 
 
 lagawe ! 
 
 Sayyid Birahna khewan lage, phir utar par ho, e 
 jiwe. 
 
 BALLADE V. 
 
 Sit samundar utre hain pir, shukr bhej Haqq Ta'ala 
 ke : " Rabb ! tube pir lagawe." 
 
 Tab wazu karke, azan dete, Lanka kamp sab jawe. 
 
 " Turn baithe raho, bhaine 'Ajab Salar, ham Lailki 
 ke sair kare awe." 
 
 Jamuni Kalwirin baithi dlikin par, Nirmal ke daru 
 chalawe. 
 
 Bibi Birahna uthe bol : " Bhi, J, thora sharab ham 
 
 pawe." 
 100. "Lanka ka badshah hai Nirmal, ham uski darfl 
 
 chalawe." 
 Sone ka taka diya Sayyid Birahna, Jamuni khusht 
 
 ho, e jawe. 
 Kitte lota aur matki shishi men an jhukawe. 
 Battis bhatti le bharti, tabahu na bharjiwe. 
 Tharhi Kalwarin sir patke : " Miyan, kaisi shishi 
 
 lawe ! 
 " Sune jo pawe Nirmal Palihar, moke jiyat bhir 
 
 jhukawe." 
 
 Usmeil ka shai lihi nikil, aur apne pis lagawe. 
 
 Biba Birahni uthe bol : " Bha, i, apna sharab le 
 jawe." 
 
 Itni bat suna Jamuna ne, bahut khushi ho, e jiwe. 
 
 Tab 'Ajab Salar ke liha sith aur Lanka ke ghat par 
 awe. 
 I lo. Nikli paniharin Lafiki. ki, sab pant bharan ke awe, 
 Sone ka ghara lihe sir upar o gefiruri yonhiii baniwe ; 
 
( 30 ) 
 
 Dekha sftrat 'Ajab Salir ka, paniharin khCishi ho, e 
 jawe. 
 
 " Main turn se ptjchhfln, he sihib, in tfi kahwHn se 
 
 iwe? 
 
 " Dehra hamari hai Garh Gajan, ham Lanki dekhan 
 
 iwe. 
 
 " Turn J£l kahiye Nirmal Palihir se, tumhen 'Ajab 
 milan ke awe." 
 
 Itni bat suna paniharin, bahut ghussa man khiwe. 
 
 BALLADE VL 
 "Sattar gaz ka hai Nirmal, tare kaise hath samawe?" 
 
 Ghat ke (ipar khari panihirin, gharila bor, sir pa 
 uthawe. 
 
 Sir ke upar dhari wuh gharili, Lanki ki rah takiwe. 
 
 1 20. Itni bat sun Sayyid Birahni bahut ghussa man khawe 
 
 Khinch gola mari Sayyid Birahni, ghari chur chu! 
 ur jawe. 
 
 Bime ki hasuli pahine paniharin ro, at Lafike ko jawe. 
 
 Jahwan baithi Maya Madodari, tahwan yih chal awe. 
 
 Ro, e ro, e bat kaha paniharin : " Mose kahi na jiwe ! 
 
 " Du, e Turki kahwin se i, e, pini ghit par dhum 
 machawe. 
 
 " ja, o, jawib deo Turka ke, nahin tumh're mahall men 
 iwe." 
 
 " Kai ghore, kai hain aswir, pant ghat par dhum 
 machawe ? " 
 
 " Ek ghori, do hain aswar, tor chhenke battis du, iri." 
 
 Itna bit sun Miyi Madodari, ji, e Nirmal ke jagiwe. 
 
 130. Soti Nirmal uthi jig o bahut ghussa man khawe. 
 
 " Jo nihin hoti tu miti hamiri, tumhen mir ham 
 4ilat ! 
 
 " Kahwin aisi bit pari, miti, mo ke so, at Nirmal 
 jagiwe ? " 
 
 " Dii, e Turki kahwin se i, e : pani ghit par dhfim 
 machiwe. 
 
( 31 ) 
 
 "ja, o, jaw^b deo Turka ke, n^hin tumh're mahall 
 mefl iwe." 
 
 " Tab kai ghore, kai hain aswir, mati, kitte paidal 
 awe ? " 
 
 " Ek ghorf, do hain aswar, Lanka meii dhfam mach- 
 awe." 
 
 Itnt bat suna Nirmal o bahut^ussa man khawe ; 
 
 Ghussa kha, e nikla kothri se, cholanga chir mangawe, 
 
 Cholafiga pahin, charna kachhe, mahe akhare chale 
 awe. 
 
 140. Yad kiya sahib ke ta, in ; matti se cjancj lagawe. 
 
 Wahwan se chalta, Nirmal charh parbat par jawe ; 
 
 Ek lat mara pahar ke, char tuk kar dale. 
 
 Ek hath se liya utha, e o chakk|Lr khub ghumawe. 
 
 Jahwan baithe bhaine 'Ajab Salar, wahwan pahar 
 jhukawe. 
 
 Pahar awat dekhe Sayyid Birahna, sahib par man 
 
 lawe. 
 Kalime ki ungli se liha rok aur wahin pahar thahrawe. 
 
 Pichhe ho, e kar dekhe Nirmal, wuh donon bachkar 
 
 jawe. 
 " Aisa pahar main ne mara, inhefi sahib ap bachawe ?" 
 
 Sayyid Birahna uthe bol : " Bha, iyo, 'Ajab kuchh 
 lawe." 
 150. Itnl bat suna Nirmal aur phir parbat par jawe. 
 
 Phenkha loh langar Sayyid Birahna, gale bich atkawe ; 
 Dete ragar gare par, aur sijda sis ho, e awe, 
 
 " Tumh'ri siffat sun ham chale a, e ; tu badhne par 
 man lawe ? " 
 
 Lot pot bhaura hota badhne par gunj machawe. 
 
 Tonti kJ rah paithe Nirmal, tab turant rlimal orhawe. 
 
 BALLADE VIL 
 
 Nirmal Palihar nazar nahin a, e ; Lanka ke log bhag 
 sab jawe. 
 
 Tab Nirmal muncja badhne men aur khabar Madodar 
 pawe. 
 
( 32 ) 
 
 Kail kot kk k^jar manga, e, ^nkhofi ke bich lagawe ; 
 Sefidur ki <Jibba liha manga, e, motin se mang 
 guhiwe ; 
 
 1 60. Sat khan in lk\ manga, e ; achchha that samw3.we. 
 Lekar milan chali 'Ajab ke, le qadamon par dharawe. 
 
 " Garh Lanki ki kar thakurfi, i, beti, de Nirmal ! ham 
 
 jawe." 
 " Garh Gajan men baithe mere mamla, bare pyar se 
 
 minge. 
 
 " Yih Nirmal ke khatir, burhiyS,, main ne s^t samun- 
 dar linghe." 
 
 Itni bat suna Maya Madodari, kah kar chet chitawe : 
 
 " Khat rahe magahi cJhoU pSn, Garh Lanki ki ki tha- 
 
 kurU, i. 
 " Jangh jawani thiki tumh'ri, Nirmal, bhuli ga, i cha- 
 
 tura, i ! 
 " Ka, mitti ka badhni, kahiyo, use tor na dale ? 
 " Jab se pakr& Sayyid BirahnS, meri mom deh ho, e 
 
 ja,e. 
 170. Itni bat suna Mayi Madodari, chale Mahir^wan a, e ; 
 " Payyafi tumh're lagun, he dewarwa, Nirmal ke ja, e 
 
 chura, e. 
 " Sampat ho, e to har ko, i bafite, bipat na bafite ko, i. 
 " Barah baras ka tera bhatija, pakar Turk le ja, e." 
 
 BALLADE VIIL 
 
 " Payyafi tum'h're lagdn, he dewarvv-a, Nirmal ke ja, e 
 chura, e, 
 
 " Rawan ka bha, i Mahirawan kahawe, uska beta Har- 
 bansa kahawe." 
 
 Hukm diya deofi ke ti, in, jiyat Turk nahin jdwe. 
 
 Dal badal se charha Mahirawan, chal 'Ajab lag jdwe. 
 
 Charon taraf se liya gher, bich Sayyid Birahna ho, e 
 jdwe. 
 
 Chhfite ban aur goia, ho, e andhyari dwe. 
 
( 33 ) 
 
 i8o. Y4d kiya Bala ke ta, in, sir sang ghumawe. 
 
 Jawan deo ke l&ge s^ng, wuh du, e tuk ho, e jiwe. 
 PhenkM loh langar Sayyid Birahna, das bis mdre 
 
 giriwe ; 
 Uttar se dakkhin dekhe, lothan khalihin lag3,we ; 
 Purab se pachhim dekhe, lohti kl nadi chaliwe ; 
 Bh^ge deo aur Mahir^wan ; ko, i pis nahin ^we. 
 
 BALLADE IX. 
 
 'Ajab S&lar ne kahi ek bat : " Bhi, i Sayyid Birahn^ 
 turant nk, o le awe." 
 
 Pahile charh^we Haikal ghori ke, tab 'Ajab ke charh- 
 awe, 
 
 Pichhle charhte Sayyid Birahna Meri Mauli 
 
 par Iaga.we ! 
 
 Sayyid Birahna khewan lage, phir bich dhar naeii ,awe. 
 
 190. Tab 'Ajab Salar kahi ek bat : " Bhi, J Sayyid Birahna, 
 dekho, badhne men hai Nirmal, ki bhig Lanka ko 
 jawe." 
 
 Khol badhni diy& Sayyid BirahnS, Nirmal nikal ke 
 awe. 
 
 Sattar gaz ka hai Nirmal, choti sarag lagawe. 
 
 Jab uttar se dakkhin dekhe, lothan khalihan lagiwe : 
 
 Purab se pachhim dekhe, lohu ki nadi chaliwe. 
 
 Man men soche Nirmal Palihar : " Mera Lanka garad 
 
 milawe ! " 
 Ek pa, on se na, o (Jabawe, agu chalan na pawe. 
 'Ajab Salar ne kahi ek bat : " Bha, i, kyoii td nH, o 
 
 cjabawe ? " 
 " Jab se pakriyo, he sahib, hamko na kuchh khilawe." 
 Sayyid Birahn^ uthi bol : " Ka, Nirmal tu khawe ? " 
 200. " Battis bhatti mad pite, ham bakri bis lagawe. 
 
 " Jiu mora suddh kab hota ? chilis ser chani chabiwe." 
 Tukri roti dhar kishti par le " Nirmal, tu khawe ! " 
 
 Hafiske bole Nirmal Palihar : " Ka khorahra bich 
 lagawe ? " 
 
( 34 ) 
 
 " B-ismi-ll|h kah kha, Nirmal, teri shikam pur ho, e 
 j^we." 
 
 Battis bhatti ki rahi shai, wuh^n piy^le mefi dhirt. 
 
 Hafiske bole Nirmal Palihar : " Ka, honth bich lap- 
 tawe ? " 
 
 " B-ismi-liah kah pi, Nirmal, aur khub nasha ho, e 
 jiwe." 
 
 B-ismi-lIih kah piyi Nirmal, khub magan ho, e jawe, 
 Tab k<id pari samundar ke bhitar, ghota khfib lag^we. 
 210. Bandhe IMg kfide Sayyid Birahna, bal hath men awe, 
 Dete ragar gare par sijda sis ho, e awe. 
 " Hurmat chaho, he Nirmal, tu phir badhne par Jiwe." 
 Lot pot hota bhawara badhne par gunj machawe ; 
 Tofiti ki rkh paithe Nirmal, tab turant rumal orh^we, 
 
 Sayyid Birahna khewan Mge, phir utar pir ho, e jliwe. 
 
 BALLADE X. 
 
 sat samundar utre hain p^r, shukr bhej Haqq Ta'ali 
 
 ke : " Rabb 1 tuhi pir lagSwe !" 
 Lagi kachahri Bala ki, o wahin 'Ajab chale awe. 
 Ba, en adab se khare hft, e, mamii ke sis nawawe : 
 Kare kornish, kahi bat : " Ko, i badhna ja, e le awe ?" 
 
 220. Sattar Salar, bahattar Bahlim, in ja lapte ; badhna 
 jumbish nahin khawe. 
 
 Miyan Gajan uthe bol : " Bha, i Sayyid Birahna, turn 
 ja badhna le awe." 
 
 Khol badhna diya Sayyid Birahna, Nirmal nikal kar 
 awe, 
 
 Sattar gaz ka khara Nirmal, choti sarag lagawe. 
 
 Ba, en adab se khara h(i, a, sijda sis nawawe ; 
 
 Kare kornish, in kahi bat : " Mijan, bira ek ham 
 pawe ? " 
 
L 35 ) 
 
 Miy^n Gajan thoka pita : " Jk, tk, in Kotwali pSwe ! " 
 
 Karke salam chali Nirmal o chal thine par jawe. 
 
 Nirmal iwat dekhe Kaurya deo bahut ghussa man 
 khiwe. 
 
 Yad kiyi Bala ke tk, in, matti se cjancj lagawe. 
 
 230. Til thonk hone lagi, kushti dau pech chaliwe. 
 
 Tin pahar larte biti, ko, i tale nahin iwe. 
 
 Mire do pushtak, Nirmal Kaurya ke tale giriwe ; 
 
 Charhe baitha chhatt ke fipar, ghusan kai mir 
 chaliwe ; 
 
 Ting pakarke haiflch lihi o jin nikal kar jiwe. 
 
 Inscription : 
 
 Ustid Bikinfl, til til sumiran mita Sirdi, gySn 
 batiwe ; 
 
 Beti Taj ki giwe Minu-llih, dhyin dhani par liwe : 
 237. Pahile main sumirufi apne gurfl ke, tab baithe akhare 
 jiwe. 
 
 PALIHAR'S CAPTURE. 
 
 BALLADE /. 
 
 Then outspake Sah<j Silir : " Have I no henchman 
 
 that will overthrow the demon Kaurii ? " 
 Of thirty-two betel-leaves he prepared a packet, and" 
 
 bade them place it in the midst of his assembly 
 
 for a challenge. 
 " Is there a warrior," he cried, "that will taste this leaf,. 
 
 and pledge himself to overthrow the demon Kaurii ? 
 " Whoso shall overcome the demon Kaurii, him will 
 
 I make High Bailiff in Ghazni, and greatly will I 
 
 increase his dignity." 
 Warriors, stout and true, sat in that assembly ; but 
 
 they 'gan avert their glances. 
 Scarce heard they the name of the demon Kauria, 
 
 than, one by one, they rose and departed. 
 
( 36 ) 
 
 Of the day two watches passed, yet none had taken 
 up the betel-leaf. 
 
 Then Sahfl Sal^r mused in his heart, and his mind 
 
 was sore distressed. 
 When, straight from spelling out his book, came the 
 
 Warrior Saint from school. 
 10. "I ask thee, father, " quoth he, "why art thou vexed 
 
 in spirit ? " 
 " Still art thou but a child," Sahu made answer : " give 
 
 thy thoughts to thy spelling." 
 The Warrior Saint stepped back with his eyes on his 
 
 book " Prithee, father, tell me !" 
 
 " My son," spake Sihii, " no henchman have I that will 
 
 overthrow Kauris. 
 " Whoso shall overthrow the demon Kauris, him will 
 
 I make High Bailiff in Ghazni, and greatly will I 
 
 increase his dignity." 
 Hearing these words, the master was sore vexed in 
 
 spirit. 
 
 He opened the holy writ, and gazed upon it, and 
 pondered deeply. 
 
 ' " Beyond the oceans seven," so ran the oracle, " dwell- 
 eth one Nirmal. If he be brought a captive, 
 
 " He it is that shall slay the demon Kauria ; he it is 
 that shall be High Bailiff." 
 
 Of thirty-two betel-leaves he prepared a packet, and 
 bade them place it in the midst of the assembly ; 
 20. " Is there a warrior," he cried, " that will taste this 
 leaf, and pledge himself to journey to Laflka's 
 Fort ? " 
 
 Warriors, stout and true, sat in that assembly ; but 
 they 'gan avert their glances. 
 
( 37 ) 
 
 Scarce heard they the name of Lanka's Fort, than 
 pallor 'gan overspread the brow of each. 
 
 Of the day two watches passed " Heigho, " sighed 
 
 the Warrior, " will none take up the leaf ? " 
 
 In that assembly was his sister's son 'Ajab Silir. 
 
 He hied him and took up the leaf. 
 The leaf he tasted, and came forward with an 
 
 obeisance, saying: "Uncle, I will journey to LMka.' 
 Then the Warrior Saint arose and spake : — " Go to, 
 
 'Ajab, thou art still but a child. Give up this idle 
 
 thought." 
 
 BALLADE IL 
 Then 'Ajab called for the mare Haikal, and had a 
 golden saddle girded upon her ; 
 
 A golden saddle was wrought for Haikal, and her 
 crupper he had studded with rubies ; 
 
 A peaked bonnet with a diadem he set upon his head, 
 
 and round his waist he girded a sword. 
 30. He mounted upon Haikal and approached his uncle ; 
 The Warrior Saint arose and spake : — " Nay, 'Ajab, 
 
 still art thou but a child. Wilt thou journey to 
 
 Lanka ? 
 " What time thou drawest nigh to Lafiki's Fort, many 
 
 a demon will assail thee, 
 " Each demon such that he could make a ladder, and 
 
 rest its top against the heavens. 
 
 " Some will come with a clatter and some with a roar 
 as of thunder. Oho, my gallant, they will gobble 
 thee up." 
 
 " In the midst of the assembly," 'Ajab made answer, 
 " I tasted the leaf, scare me not with fears of 
 death ! " 
 
( 38 ) 
 
 " This head will I lose in Laflka, or drag the demon 
 hither." 
 
 Scarce heard the master these words, than straightway 
 he summoned Birahn^ ; 
 
 Sayyid Birahna appeared, and made obeisance, say- 
 ing : — " What is my master's bidding ?" 
 
 " 'Ajab forsooth," quoth the Warrior, " would journey 
 to Lanka's Fort. Do thou attend him ? " 
 40. Upon this word Sayyid Birahni girded his iron chain 
 about his loins : 
 
 A wooden bludgeon, he cast over his shoulder, and so 
 attended 'Ajab. 
 
 BALLADE IIL 
 
 A golden trident in his hand, 'Ajab moved flashing as 
 the thunderbolt, 
 
 Then the Warrior Saint arose, saying : — " What ho, 
 'Ajab ! if, after thy journey to Lanka's Fort, thou 
 shalt bring its lord before me, 
 
 " Then only will I look on thy face again ! " Mount- 
 ing upon Haikal, 'Ajab made obeisance to his uncle. 
 
 And, still on Haikal's back, he set his face towards 
 Lanka. 
 
 Night and day they marched, until they came to the 
 brink of the ocean, 
 
 On guard over Lailka sat a demon, who was building 
 his house. 
 
 Then Birahna advanced and dug in the trident, and 
 the pang throbbed tlirough the head of the demon. 
 In his heart the demon mused, and pondered deeply : 
 50. " Whence hail these princes, that have dug in a tri- 
 dent, till the pang throbbed through my head ? " 
 
( 39 ) 
 
 " Come forth from within," cried Birahna, " and gaze 
 
 upon us, and confront us." 
 Straightway the demon took the form of a Brahman, 
 
 and placed a caste-mark on his forehead, 
 And with a hallowed thread over his shoulder, and a 
 
 brass pot in his hand, did he deceive 'Ajab. 
 " I would ask you, fair sirs," spake the demon, " now 
 
 whence are you come ? " 
 
 "Our homestead," Birahna made answer, "is in 
 Ghazni's Fort : we come to see Laflka." 
 
 " Of gold," quoth the demon, " is Lafik^ wrought, 
 whereon your eyes shall never light, 
 
 " Save only if ye send for a handful of wood and set it 
 ablaze, then shall ye behold it." 
 
 Upon these words, Sayyid Birahnit scaled a mountain. 
 
 And, when he scaled the mountain, many a demon 
 assailed him, 
 
 60. Each demon such that he could make a ladder, and 
 rest its top against the heavens. 
 
 Some came with a clatter and some with a roar as of 
 thunder. Look, 'Ajab ! they will gobble thee up. 
 
 On every side they formed a ring, in the midst stood 
 Sayyid Birahna. 
 
 As shaft and sling-stone were loosed, the air was 
 darkened. 
 
 Then he bade his bludgeon strike down the demons. 
 
 Some he lamed of foot ; some he maimed of hand ; 
 
 some slunk up, crying : — 
 " Put up thy bludgeon. Hold,— enough." A handful 
 
 of fire-wood was his bidding. 
 
( 4b ) 
 
 And all the demons, like one long ladder, 'gan shak- 
 ing trees, 
 
 And each cast a tree over his shoulder and carried it 
 to 'Ajab. 
 
 BALLADE TV. 
 So 'Ajab called for fire-wood, and heaped him up a 
 goodly pile, 
 
 70. Then sent he up a prayer to the Almighty, saying : — 
 " Lord ! whence shall I get me fire ? " 
 
 Straightway the Fire-god kindled it, and the blaze 
 rose up to heaven. 
 
 In the flare 'Ajab saw Lanka, and his heart was glad ; 
 
 Then sent he up a prayer to the Almighty, saying : — 
 " Lord 1 whence shall I get me a boat ? " 
 
 In the form of a Brahman rose the demon and spake : — 
 " Saints so hallowed as ye, prithee, why should ye 
 wait till a boat is brought ? 
 
 " Nay, in front of you will I lay me down and ye shall 
 mount upon my back." 
 
 Straightway the demon fell prostrate and set his face 
 towards Lanki, 
 
 And where little 'Ajab Saldr was seated, there he 
 drew up his legs. 
 
 Then outspake 'Ajab Sal^r : " Ho, Sayyid Birahni, 
 mount upon his back." 
 
 But Sayyid Birahni arose and spake : — " Still, 'Ajab, 
 art thou but a child. Give up this idle thought. 
 
 80. ' Before thine eyes, erewhile was he a Brahman, and 
 now he hath returned to his demon form. 
 
( 4t ) 
 
 " When thou shalt mount upon his back, with one 
 heave upon his side, he will drown thee in mid- 
 stream." 
 
 With his bludgeon Sayyid Birahna smote the demon, 
 and he fled. 
 
 " Take us on board," hailed Birahna to a passing boat ; 
 fetch a compass, and then retrace your course ;" 
 
 " Ferry us over," he spake, "' ahoy there, we fain would 
 
 see Lanka." 
 " In the heart of Mecca," hailed back the helmsman, 
 
 our stainless throng of worshippers stands waiting. 
 
 My hour for prayer hath come. 
 
 " Saints so hallowed as ye, say, why should ye wait 
 till a boat is brought. 
 
 " Nay, rather hunt ye the wild-goat, and from its 
 bones fashion a boat." 
 
 Upon this word Sayyid Birahn^ scaled a mountain. 
 And he hunted the wild-goat, and from its bones he 
 fashioned a boat. 
 
 90. By taking out its inwards, he lent it the shape of a 
 boat, and of its flesh he dressed a repast. Then, 
 giving thanks in the name of the Lord, he spake : 
 " Eat and drink." 
 
 So he fashioned a boat from a wild-goat and launched 
 it in mid-sea : 
 
 First, he embarked the mare Haikal, then he embark- 
 ed 'A jab. 
 
 Last of all Sayyid Birahna embarked May God 
 
 speed his passage ! 
 
 Sayyid Birahna ' gan ply the oar, and soon they landed 
 on the further strand. 
 
( 42 ) 
 
 BALLADE V. 
 
 The seven oceans traversed, they landed and sent 
 up a prayer of thanksgiving to the Almighty, say- 
 ing : — " Lord ! thou hast brought us to our goal." 
 
 Then they washed their hands, and gave out the call 
 to prayer, so that all Lankci trembled. 
 
 " Stay seated here, little 'Ajab Salar," quoth Father 
 Birahna, " I will stroll through Lanka and return. 
 
 Jamuni, the Inn-keeper's wife, sat at her booth, strain- 
 ing liquor for Nirmal. 
 
 Father Birahna uprose and spake : — " Come, let me 
 have a little wine." 
 
 lOO. " The King of Lanki," Jamuni made answer, " is 
 Nirmal, and his liquor am I straining." 
 
 A golden doit Sayyid Birahna gave her ; then was 
 Jamuni glad of heart. 
 
 Full many a ewer of brass and clay did she pour into 
 his phial ! 
 
 Thirty-two vats she poured Into it, and even then it 
 would not fill. 
 
 The Inn-keeper's wife stood beating her brow, and 
 crying : — " Good, sir, what phial is this that thou 
 hast brought ? 
 
 " If Nirmal Palih^r hear of it, all my life will he keep 
 me parching grain at a furnace ! " 
 
 Of the contents Father Birahna extracted the essence 
 
 and kept it with him. 
 Then he arose and spake : — " Come, take away thy 
 
 wine." 
 
 These words heard Jamuni, and her heart was exceed 
 ing glad. 
 
( 43 ) 
 
 Then toolc he 'A jab Saiar with him and came unto 
 the water-stairs of Laflki. 
 iio. Allthe damsels of Lanki had come forth to draw 
 water, 
 Carrying golden ewers upon their heads, and were 
 just plaiting their head-pads. 
 
 When the damsels beheld the mien of 'Ajab Salar, 
 their hearts were gladdened. 
 
 " I ask ye, fair sirs," each cried, " whence come ye ? " 
 " Our homestead," 'Ajab made answer, " is in Ghazni's 
 
 Fort ; we come to see Lanka. 
 " Go, tell Nirmal Palihar that 'Ajab hath come to 
 
 embrace him." 
 
 So much the damsels heard, and they waxed exceed- 
 ing wroth in their hearts. 
 
 BALLADE VI. 
 " Seventy yards," scoffed the damsels, " doth Nir- 
 mal measure. How wilt thou get him into thy 
 
 grasp .'' " 
 On the water-stairs stood the damsels, and they 
 
 dipped their ewers into the water and lifted them 
 
 upon their heads. 
 Upon their heads they placed the ewers and took 
 
 the path to LafikA. 
 1 20. Scarce heard these words, Sayyid Birahna waxed 
 
 exceeding wrath in his heart; 
 A sling-stone hurled Sayyid Birahni, and the 
 
 ewers burst to shatters. 
 Wearing but the mouth-rings like necklaces, the 
 
 damsels returned weeping to Lanka. 
 
 Where mother Madodari was seated, there they all 
 gathered ; 
 
( 44 ) 
 
 Sobbing and crying, spake each damsel : — " I! cannot 
 speak for woe ! 
 
 " Soraewhence two Turks have come, and on the 
 water-stairs make a bluster ; 
 
 " Go, send the Turks about their business, else 
 will they invade thy palace ! " 
 
 " How many chargers," quoth Madodari ; " how 
 many riders make this bluster on the water- 
 stairs ? " 
 
 "A single mare," sobbed the damsels, " and but 
 two riders ; yet will they beat down and bar 
 thirty-two doors." 
 
 Hearing these words, mother Madodari went waken 
 Nirmal ; 
 
 130. The sleeping Nirmal awoke, and started up, and 
 waxed exceeding wrath in his heart : 
 
 " Wert thou not my mother," he grumbled, " verily 
 I would slay thee ! 
 
 •' What matter so weighty can have befallen, 
 mother, that thou hast aroused me, the sleeping 
 Nirmal ? " 
 
 " Somewhence," quoth Madodari, " two Turks have 
 come ; on the water-stairs they make a bluster : 
 
 " Go, send these Turks about their business, else 
 will they invade thy palace." 
 
 " Then how many chargers," asked Nirmal, " and 
 how many riders, and how many foot-folk have 
 come ?" 
 
 " A single mare," spake Madodari, " and but two 
 riders make this bluster through all Laflki ! " 
 
 These words heard Nirmal, and waxed exceeding 
 wrath in his heart, 
 
( 45 ) 
 
 And, waxing wrath, hied him from the chamber, 
 and called for his wrestler's apparel ; 
 
 He donned his loin-cloth, and drew tight his waist- 
 band, and stepped upon the sand of his arena. 
 
 140. He thought upon his craft-master, and twice or 
 thrice raised himself, by his arms, from the 
 ground. 
 
 Thence hied him Nirmal and climbed upon a 
 mountain ; 
 
 With one blow of his foot he smote that mountain, 
 and broke it into four pieces ; 
 
 With one hand he raised a fragment and whirled it 
 in a mighty swing ; 
 
 Where little 'Ajab Salar was sitting, there he flung 
 the mountain. 
 
 Sayyid Birahni descried the mountain coming, and 
 fixed his thoughts upon his master. 
 
 With his fore-finger he encountered it, and even 
 there arrested the mountain. 
 
 Nirmal turned back and saw that both had escaped. 
 
 " Such a mountain," he mused, "did I hurl, and 
 yet have these princes escaped by their own 
 power ? " 
 
 Sayyid Birahna arose, saying : — " What ho, there ! 
 'Ajab hath brought thee a gift." 
 
 150. This word scarce heard, Nirmal hied him back to 
 the mountain ; 
 
 Sayyid Birahna hurled his iron chain, and by the 
 neck he caught him, 
 
 With a chafing tug on his throat, and his head 
 bowed as in prayer, approached the demon ; 
 
( 46 ) 
 
 " Ere we came," laughed Birahna, " had we heard 
 of thy nature. Are thy thoughts fixed on 
 slaughter ? " 
 
 Straightway he was transformed into a bee, and 
 'gan buzzing over the phial, 
 
 Nirmal entered by the spout, and straightway 
 Birahn^ covered it with a kerchief. 
 
 BALLADE VII. 
 Nirmal Palihar was lost to sight, and all the men 
 of Lanka fled. 
 
 Then was Nirmal shut up in the phial, and the 
 tidings reached the ear of Madodart. 
 
 She called for eye-salve from Kali's fortress, and to 
 her eyes applied it ; 
 
 She called for a casket of vermilion, and with pearls 
 decked the parting of her tresses ; 
 
 1 60. She called for seven mines of rubies, and in goodly 
 fashion arrayed them ; 
 
 With them she hied her faith to meet 'A jab, and 
 at his feet she threw them. 
 
 " Of Lanka's Fort," she pleaded, " take thou the 
 kingship; my son. Give me but Nirmal and I 
 leave thee ! " 
 
 " In Ghazni's Fort," 'Ajab made answer, " sitteth 
 my uncle, and calleth for him with mighty long- 
 ing, 
 
 " For this Nirmal, mother, I have o'erleapt the 
 oceans seven." 
 
 These words heard mother Madodar}, and, as he 
 spake, she much bethought her : 
 
( 47 ) 
 
 " While thou didst dally, chewing strings of the 
 daintiest betel-leaves, and didst play the gallant 
 in the Fort of Lanka, 
 
 " Aweary grew thy thews and prowess, Nirmal, and 
 thy cunning was forgotten : 
 
 " Say, canst thou not even burst a phial of clay ? " 
 
 " Since Sayyid Birahna," moaned Nirmal from the 
 phial, "laid hands upon me, my limbs have 
 become as of wax." 
 
 1 70. Upon these words, mother Madodari hied her to 
 Mahirfiwan : 
 
 " Thy feet I clasp," she cried, " brother of my 
 spouse : go, set my Nirmal free. 
 
 " When luck befalls, all claim a share, but none 
 will share in woe ! 
 
 " Summers but twelve doth thy nephew number, — 
 the Turks have seized him and carry him away." 
 
 BALLADE VIII. 
 
 " Thy feet I clasp," cried Madodari, " brother of 
 my spouse : go, set my Nirmal free. 
 
 " 'Tis Rawan's brother that men call MahirSwan, 
 and his son they call Harbans4 ! " 
 
 Then Mahirawan charged his demons that the 
 Turks should not depart alive. 
 
 With a host like a thunder-cloud, Mahir&wan ad- 
 vanced and came nigh unto 'Ajab. 
 
 On every side they formed a ring, and in the midst 
 stood Sayyid Birahna. 
 
 As shaft and sling-stone were loosed, the air was 
 darkened, 
 
( 48 ) 
 
 i8o. He thought upon his master and whirled the trident 
 above hi' head. 
 Whomsoev^er of the demons the trident smote, he 
 was cloven into two pieces; 
 
 Sayyid Birahna hurled his chain of iron and laid 
 low a score of foemen ; 
 
 From north to south he gazed, and strewed a very 
 threshing-floor of corpses ; 
 
 From east to west he gazed, and poured forth blood 
 in a mighty stream. 
 
 Fled were the demons and Mahirawan none 
 
 ventured nigh. 
 
 BALLADE IX. 
 
 Then oubspake 'Ajab Salar :— " What ho, Sayyid 
 Birahna ! quickly bring the boat." 
 
 First he embarked the mare Haikal ; then he em- 
 barked 'Ajab ; 
 
 Last of all Sayyid Birahni embarked may 
 
 my master speed the passage ! 
 
 Sayyid BirahnU 'gan ply the oar, and so they float- 
 ed out on the mid-stream ; 
 
 190. Then outspake'Ajab Salar: — "List, Sa5^id Birahna ! 
 see if Nirmal be still in the phial or have escaped 
 to Lankl" 
 
 The phial did Sayyid Birahna open, and outslipped 
 Nirmal ; 
 
 Seventy yards doth Nirmal measure, and with his 
 top-knot tips the heavens. 
 
 When from north to south he gazes, he strews a 
 very threshing-floor of corpses ; 
 
 From east to west he gazes, and pours out blood in 
 a mighty stream. 
 
( 49 ) 
 
 In his heart mused Nirmal Palihir : — " My Lanka 
 have they levelled with the dust ! " 
 
 Then with one foot he 'gan sink the boat, and its 
 
 course was hemmed. 
 Quoth 'Ajab Sil^r : — " Good fellow, why wouldst 
 
 thou sink the boat." 
 
 " Ever since," roared Nirmal, " ye took me captive, 
 fair sirs, ye have given me nothing to eat ! " 
 
 Sayyid Birahni uprose and spake : — " What, Nirmal, 
 wouldst thou eat ? " 
 
 200. " Thirty-two vats of wine," quoth Nirmal, " will I 
 drink and then account for a score of goats. 
 
 " Wouldst know, when my hunger is sated ? Then 
 give me forty measures of pulse to chew." 
 
 A morsel of bread brought Birahni, and on the 
 boat he placed it, saying : — " Nirmal, eat ! " 
 
 Loud laughed Nirmal Palihir and spake : — " What 
 kickshaw dost thou place before me ? 
 
 "Give thanks," spake Birahni, "in the name of 
 the Lord, Nirmal, and eat. Verily, thy belly 
 shall be filled." 
 
 Of thirty-two vats he held the essence and into a 
 goblet poured it. 
 
 Loud laughed Nirmal Palih^r and spake : — " What, 
 am I to carry this between my lips ? " 
 
 " Give thanks," spake Birahna, " in the name of the 
 Lord, Nirmal, and drink. Verily, thou shalt be 
 drunk to thy heart's desire." 
 
 Nirmal gave thanks in the name of the Lord, and 
 drank. He waxed wondrous merry. 
 
 And he bounded into the ocean with a lusty plunge. 
 
( 50 ) 
 
 2IO. Tight drew Sayyid Birahna his waist band, and 
 sprang after him, and by the hair he grasped 
 him. 
 
 With a chafing tug on his throat, and his head 
 bowed as in prayer, approached the demon. 
 
 " Think of thine honour, Nirmal," scoffed Birahna, 
 " again are thy thoughts fixed upon slaughter ? " 
 
 Straightway he was transformed into a bee, and 
 'gan buzzing round the phial. 
 
 Nirmal entered by the spout, and straightway 
 Birahna covered it with a kerchief. 
 
 Sa3ryid Birahna 'gan ply the oar, and again they 
 landed on the further strand. 
 
 BALLADE X. 
 
 The seven oceans traversed, they landed and sent 
 up a prayer to the Almighty, saying : — " Lord ! 
 thou hast brought us to our goal." 
 
 The Master's Court was sitting, and even there 
 came 'Ajab. 
 
 On the left he stood with reverence, and unto his 
 uncle did obeisance. 
 
 The greetings done, he spake :—" Will any one 
 bring me yon phial ? " 
 
 220. Seventy captains and seventy- two saints laid hold 
 on it ; not an inch budged the phial. 
 Then the Warrior Saint arose and spake : — " What 
 ho, Sayyid Birahna ! bring thou the phial." 
 
 The phial did Sayyid Birahni open, and outslipped 
 Nirmal ; 
 
 Seventy yards stood Nirmal, and with his top-knot 
 tipped the heavens. 
 
( 5t ) 
 
 On the left he stood with reverence, and bowed his 
 
 head as in prayer. 
 The greetings done, he spake : — " Master, may I 
 
 not have just one betel-leaf? " 
 
 On his back the Warrior Saint slapped and patted 
 him, saying : — " Go, thou shalt be my High 
 Bailiff!" 
 
 Then Nirmal saluted and hied him to his watcli- 
 house ; 
 
 But the demon Kauris descried Nirmal coming, 
 and waxed exceeding wrath in his heart. 
 
 He thought upon the Master, and twice or thrice 
 raised himself, by his arms, from the ground. 
 
 230. His arms each champion slapped in defiance, and 
 they wrestled with a rush and a grapple. 
 
 Watches three passed over the tussle ; still neither 
 bit the dust. 
 
 At last with two kicks Nirmal threw the demon 
 Kauria, 
 
 And on his chest he mounted, and smote him with 
 his fist ; 
 
 Then he laid hold on his legs with a wrench, and 
 the soul departed. 
 
 Inscription : 
 The Craft-Master Bik^nu, pondering ever more 
 deeply on the Goddess of Learning, taught the 
 cunning of this strain. 
 
 But 'twas Manu-lMh, the song of Tij, that sang it, 
 with an eye to his wealthy patrons. 
 
 237. First will I ponder on my tutor, and then sing it 
 seated in the arena. 
 
PART III. 
 THE LAY OF SAINT AMINA. 
 
( 55 ) 
 
 PART III. 
 THE LAY OF SAINT AMINA. 
 
 The pathetic story of Saint Amina illustrates the 
 division o£ families in consequence of conversion. Its 
 details, I think, must have been suggested by the clos- 
 ing episode of the Ramayana, where Sita is driven 
 forth by Rama and sheltered by the holy Valmiki. 
 The incident, in which Amini and her children bury 
 themselves to escape pursuit, and are transformed into 
 grass and trees, strongly savours of the legend of 
 Apollo and Daphne. This is a bone which I must 
 leave to classical scholars to tear between them. For 
 the rest, the poem is the most purely lyric outburst in 
 the collection. Perhaps it is das ewig WeiUiche in the 
 legend, which renders Saint Amina the most popular 
 object of worship in the quintette. To me the story 
 has a special, though mournful, interest. I first heard 
 it sung, in the course of a right merry evening, on the 
 steps of the Bela Indigo Factory, in company with my 
 old friend Tom de Hoxar, whose sudden and untimely 
 death deprived the Benares District of one of its most 
 popular residents. 
 
( 56 ) 
 THE LAY OF SAINT AMINA. 
 
 Amina Sati bahut sat kin, 
 
 Bhfikhe bhojan baithak din, 
 
 Pharke anchal nange pahirawi, 
 
 BhMa batohi rih batliwa, 
 
 Itna sati sat jab kin 
 
 Tab Amina bahut sat lin. 
 
 Akrtj nagar dulmS des. 
 
 Na kihtj awe ni kahe sandes. 
 
 Jahtn se chale Miyin Pinchoft Pir 
 lo. Ban Tulsi ka Miyfin kheli aher. 
 
 Khelat aher MiyHn ke l^gi pyis 
 
 Pani heran Miyan ga, e Banaspati ke pas. 
 
 " Turn thora p^ni hamko pili, o 
 
 '-' Thanda pini ku, ^n se le k, o." 
 
 " Nclhin ghar lota nihin hk dor. 
 
 " Kaise pini piia, un Miyan mor? 
 
 " Unche mandir ka niche du, &r 
 
 Wahan baithi ba Amini apne muhar : 
 
 Wahan Miyan pani pi, o turn ja, e." 
 20. Miyan Ghazi Palihar ke hukm diya laga, e. 
 
 Apna sarflp Palihar pakren hain ja, e. 
 
 Palihar zamin men gire hain a, e. 
 
 C balls kolh ke lamba hoja, e. 
 
 Das kolh ke chaura banja, e. 
 
 Tab sone ka qila'a Palihar ke nagar par ja, e. 
 
 Ghagi Miyan ke sange lihin li, a, e. 
 
 Jake pahunche Amina ke du, ar. 
 
 Bahin, bahin karke liha pukar. 
 
 Bhitar se nikli hai Amina Ma, i 
 30. Anke kaure ga, in thahara, i 
 
 Amin Panchofi Pir ke chhinhat ba, e : 
 
( 57 ) 
 
 " Tfl sab ko, i ham're naihar se i, e 
 
 " Kaho naihar ki bitefi artba, e. 
 
 " Tab ham t(ike pini de, ftn pi, &, e." 
 
 " Tuh'ri naihar Amin khem kusal hk, e kull paliwir. 
 
 " Ham to Amin baithat biten rit din4 tu'hre du, ^r." 
 
 " Chhan ek baitho tum chandan jar^, e 
 
 " Tab se ham de, ifl tflke raso, i sijha, e." 
 
 " Tu'hrJ raso, i ligi bari ber. 
 40. " Ham Nirpanchi j^wen sawer." 
 
 " Hamke aher khele ke ho, J aber," 
 
 Amin Mk, i se kahe Panchon Pir, 
 
 Laii palang Amin diya nikalwi, e : 
 
 " Baitho bhayyA tu man chit IS, e." 
 
 Nem dharam se Amin liha niha, e, 
 
 Jhapat ke Amin raso, i men jk, e, 
 
 Sijhwefl Amin panchon parkar, 
 
 Turant Amini kihin raso, i tayyir, 
 
 Jhapat ke Amina Akrfl Nagar men ja, e : 
 50. " Sun le Bari ch^r sai pattri de laga, e." 
 
 " Ham're dona pattri nihin b^ tayyar 
 
 " Tum sone ki tharyS. apne biran ke de, o jaunir." 
 
 Pan ka pattarya Amin4 lega, e dera B^rj, 
 
 'Arsh se utral Amina sonawi kai thari. 
 
 Ran parosin jhafik jhonk ja, e : 
 
 " Baire acharaj ki bat yih ba, e." 
 
 Hathe leke pani Amina apne biran ke lage ja, e. 
 
 •' Utho, bhayya, charan pakharo, raso, j le, o tum 
 kha, e." 
 
 " Raso, i raso, i jin kar bahini lag. 
 
( 58 ) 
 6o. " Raso, i ke pichhe ho, e tuhir burl hhkg." 
 " Hamke Ramchand jon likhe hu, en banMs, 
 " Kikare bhig se bhogab.ranwis." 
 
 Tab uthe hain P&nchon Pir charan pakhir 
 
 Jake Panchon Pir kare lage jeonir. 
 
 Ran parosin jhank jhonk ja, e : 
 
 " Awe sas, Goshayan, to layya de, fin laga, e ! " 
 
 " Amina, jo mangna ho so mang, 
 
 " Ham toke deb tor bari bhag." 
 
 "An dhan hamke Goshayan bahut di, e ja, e, 
 70. " Ka ham tflse mangan ba, e ? " 
 
 Baba Birahna math diya lataka, e. 
 
 Amina se kaha : " Achchha autar a, il ba, e." 
 
 Amina diya ulatke jawab ; " Hamke tu diha bata, e. 
 
 " Jaune bela haraefl garh pare wflhi beia tu a, e." 
 
 Panchofi Pir jewan jewar man la, e. 
 
 " Ham apan parosin leb mana, e." 
 
 Amina ka sawal plira karat ba, e, 
 
 Amina ka man kbwush hoja, e. 
 
 Jew utha Bala panth ko sidhara. 
 80. Pichhawan Amina dhancjhel pasara. 
 
 Tare kaili sona <ipar moti dhar. 
 
 " Lebe na parosin bahini baina hamar. 
 
 " Amina ka baina le ghar ja, e. 
 
 " Age le sas awe layya mat la, e. 
 
 " Layya tft la, ibe bahini ka phal kha, ibe ? 
 
 " Itna dan janam baithal kha, ibe." 
 
 *' Ham're mukh do jibh: baina leb o layya deb 
 laga, e.' 
 
( 59 ) 
 
 «' Na tuke baina deb, turn layya deo laga, e." 
 
 Amin^ ki sSs KamnS samundar se a, i naha, e. 
 90. Machya par baithke kes jhuriwat hk, e. 
 
 Ake ran parosin s^s ke k^ne l^gal j&, e. 
 
 " Kaisan sis tuhre deswi kl chalyi h&, e. 
 
 " Jaune tharyi NQrchand jewefl jeonar, 
 
 " Taune tharyi Turukan diya juthir." 
 
 Daur Kimna apne bete ke lage, ja, e : 
 
 « Tu'hir dulahi bahut kupad ki, e ba, e ! " 
 
 Raja NQrchand chala du, are ja, e 
 
 Apni dulahi ke bahut risya, e. 
 
 Apni dulahi ke diya nikal 
 100. Na puchha pad na kupad, Amina ghar se diya nikal. 
 
 Gahna kapra sab liha utarwa, e, 
 
 Ek-chhinni dhoti diha pahira, e, 
 
 Bhunjal sarson Amina khoinche men la, e, 
 
 Amat Nimat donon anguri laga, e. 
 
 Pahil cleorhi jab Amin daiike ja, e 
 
 Raja ki raso, i men club aur madar jamja, e : 
 
 Dflsar cjeorhi jab Amin daiike ja, e 
 
 Dhan daulat sab ko, ila ho, e ja, e : 
 
 Tisar deorhi jab Amin dafike ja, e 
 1 10. Hathisir men hathi marja, e : 
 
 Chauthi cjeorhi jab Amin dafike ja, e 
 
 Ghora tawele meii marja, e : 
 
 Panchwin cjeorhi jab Amin dafike ja, e 
 
 Raja ka fauj khaikhar ho, e ja, e: 
 
 Chhatwin 4eoj-hi jab Amin dafike ja, e 
 
 An pani sab jarja, e : 
 
 Satwin (Jeorhi jab Amin dafike ja, e 
 
( 6o ) 
 
 Pichhe ulatke taice sone kk qila'a jarja, e : 
 
 Ek ban ga, in, dfisar nagcha, e, 
 1 20. Donon larkan ke bhukh lag jk, e 
 
 Amin apan larkan ke samjh^, e: 
 
 " Ham're palle kuchh n^hin hi, e." 
 
 Bhanjal sarsofi khoinche se nik^lat hk, e, 
 
 Agal bagal riste men chhitat jd, e, 
 
 GMzi Miydn ke lihan manS, e. 
 
 Bhfinjal sarsofi jamat hk, e, 
 
 jamat jamat bara ho, e ja, e, 
 
 Amal Nimat khontat ba, e. 
 
 Kha, en kan^ari lag pyas, 
 130. Tab a, efl apni mata ke pas: 
 
 " Amina, Amina, pani le a, o, 
 
 " Hamke jaldi se pani piia, o ! " 
 
 " Aithan ku, afi na pokhari ba, e, 
 
 " Kaise pani de, ftn pi, a, e ?" 
 
 Amina Ghazi Miyan ke liha inana, e : 
 
 " Ham're larkan ke pani deo pila, e ! " 
 
 Garh Gajan se sagra phfita, 
 
 Unke age se bah chala : 
 
 Amin betan ke hukm diya laga, e, 
 140. " Beta tum pani pi, o agha, e." 
 
 Pach pach chillua jab wai kha, e, 
 
 Tab wai baithe dhiraj la, e. 
 
 Qila'a mefl Raja Nflrchand a, e : 
 
 " Mata hamke kuchh deo khiia, e." 
 
 Jaune bartan mefl hath cjaleft sab bartan chflflch 
 dikha, e. 
 
( 6i ) 
 
 Tab Rija Nftrchand bole : " BhCikh bahut by4pe, 
 kuchh deo Uhiia, e." 
 
 Jaune or taken bhasmi sflr dekhd, e. 
 
 Rija tutaht ghori liy^ manga, e, 
 
 Jaipar Rija charhke chaleft man^we AminA Ma, i : 
 150. Ek ban ga, e, dflsar ban ga, e, tisar jahwan baithi 
 Amina Ma, i. 
 
 Donofi larke mata se kahin samjha, e : 
 
 " Mata dadda pahunchen hain a, e ! " 
 
 Raja Nurchand Amin se karefi bana, o : 
 
 " Phirke Amin turn apne ghar ja, o." 
 
 " Aise ham Raja nahin jab ; 
 
 " Bahin hamar Ganga unse puchho ab." 
 
 Haij hail Raja Nurchand chale a, e 
 
 Jahwan Ganga Ma, i bah ja, e. 
 
 Jake karar par khara bhawa 
 160. Ganga Ma, i ke ghurrawa : 
 
 " Apan kahe to tu pdrab bahat ba, e, 
 
 " Ham're kahe tu dii ghari pachchim bah ja, e. 
 
 " Tu'hre karare par Amina baithi ba, e. 
 
 " TCl baho pachchim, to ghar chali ja, e." 
 
 " Dekho Raja Niirchand gh\\re par haftdya pari 
 ba, e. 
 
 " Wuhi haficjya mefi jewan karo, to ham pachchim 
 bah ja, e." 
 
 " Yih hamse na ho, e, Ganga Ma, i. 
 " Nem dharam sagrofi chal ja, e." 
 " Raja N(irchand, tum phir ja apan makan, 
 170. "Amina par tum mat dharo dhyan." 
 Bare zor se Raja ke ghussa k, e. 
 
( 62 ) 
 
 Man mefi kahin, Amina ke le jab ghiri, e ! 
 Ddr se Amin dekhe nagar phaili, e. 
 Amat Ntjmat donofi betan ke per diyA bani, e. 
 Amat am kk per, Nimat nim ka per ho, e ja, e. 
 Tab Ghazi ke Amin liha mana, e : 
 
 " Phate dharte ham ja, en sama, e." 
 
 Daure Raja Nflrchand, dhaike jhoflti le, M ghira, e ! 
 
 Phfital dharti Amina chalalin sama, e. 
 1 80. Jhonti Amina kt fipar ki bagha, i ho, e ja, e. 
 
 Raja Niarchand roke phire ki nij ka adin a, il ba, e. 
 
 Jahan Amin Ghaz! Miyan ke lihan buia, e 
 
 " Jahwan piya ho tu' har 
 
 " Wahawafi manta sange ho, e hamar ! " 
 
 Charhe ghore a, ilan panchofl bha, i, 
 
 Begi Sati Amina dolawa phana, e, 
 
 Amat Nimat ke ghorawa charha, e, 
 
 Le Amina Bahraich pahuncha, e. 
 
 Panchon Pir rauza to utha, e ; 
 190. Miyan ke charhawe sevaka khassya murghawa, 
 
 Amina ke pata, <1 charha, i bali ja, e, 
 
 Unka bhajan satu jofi ga, e, 
 193. Amina ka sevak dfidh pflt pa, e. 
 
( 63 ) 
 THE LAY OF SAINT AMINA. 
 
 Many a good deed wrought Saint Amina, 
 Unto the helpless poor she gave food, 
 
 Her own garment she rent and donned it on the 
 
 naked, 
 To the errant wayfarer she showed his path. 
 When Saint Amin^ performed all this saintliness, 
 Then it was that she earned her chiefest saintship. 
 Akrfi was her city and lonely was her realm. 
 
 For thither no foot doth journey, nor doth tongue 
 speak tidings of it. 
 
 In the realm, where the Heroes Five hied them 
 forth, 
 lo. There in a forest of holy basil did the Master fol- 
 low the chase : 
 
 As he followed the chase the Master fell athirst. 
 
 In quest of water the Master hied him to the God- 
 dess of the Forests, saying : — 
 
 " Give me a little water to drink : 
 " Cold water do thou bring me from the well." 
 " In my home," spake the Goddess, " is neither 
 pitcher nor rope. 
 
 " How shall I give thee water to drink, Master, 
 
 mine ? 
 
 " Of a lofty palace there is a lowly wicket, 
 
 " There sitteth Amina before her door. 
 
 "Thither, Master, wend thy way and drink thy 
 fill." 
 
 20. Then the Warrior Saint straightly charged Palihir, 
 
 And Palihir once more donned his demon form 
 
 On the ground did Palihar fall prostrate. 
 
( 64 ) 
 Even as forty oil-presses did he swell in height. 
 Even as ten oil-presses did he swell in breadth. 
 Then PalihUr descried a golden castle. 
 And he took the Warrior Saint with him 
 And they came unto doorstep of AminS : 
 Sister ! Sister ! by that name they called unto her : 
 Then from within came forth Mother Amina. 
 30. As she came to the chink of the door, she stopped. 
 For Amin knew them for the Heroes Five 
 And spake : — " From my mother's home ye are all 
 
 come; 
 " Tell me all the tidings of my mother's home, 
 " Then will I give ye water to drink." 
 " In thy mother's home," the Master made answer, 
 
 " all is well throughout the hamlet ; 
 
 " But bethink thee, Amin, thou keepest me sitting 
 
 all day and all night at thy door." 
 " But one moment," pleaded Amin, " do thou sit 
 
 beneath this sandal tree to cool thyself, 
 " Meanwhile will I dress viands for thee." 
 " Much time, I ween, take thy viands, 
 
 40. " At dawn must we be up and away on a pilgri- 
 mage. 
 " Already in following the chase have we been 
 belated." 
 
 So spake the Heroes Five unto Mother Amina. 
 A crimson couch did Amini draw forth, saying : — 
 " Sit ye down, my brothers, and fear not" 
 Then with every pious rite did Amin4 bathe ; 
 And straightway Amin hied her into her kitchen ; 
 
( 6S ) 
 
 All five dishes Amin dressed, 
 
 And forthwith Amin prepared a banquet : 
 
 In a twinkling Amin hied her to the city of Akni, 
 
 crying :-^ 
 50. " Give ear, ye torch-bearers, of leaves do ye prepare 
 
 me four hundred." 
 "Leaf-platters," they made answer, "have we 
 
 none ready. 
 " In thy golden charger do thou feast thy brethren." 
 Slow were the torch-bearers to bring unto AminS 
 
 platters of betel-leaf. 
 And from the heavens therefore descended unto 
 
 Amina a golden charger. 
 
 A neighbour's wife was peeping. 
 
 " Full wondrous, I ween," she muttered, ■' are these 
 doings." 
 
 With her own hand Amin carried water to her 
 brethren, saying: — 
 
 " Up, brethren, wash your feet — accept these viands 
 and eat your fill." 
 
 " Viands," spake the Master, " dress me no viands, 
 
 60. " For ill-fortune, I trow, upon these viands will 
 follow." 
 
 " Nay," laughed Amini, " if Ramchand have writ- 
 ten even that I shall dwell in the wild woods, 
 
 " Who shall grant me the fortune to enjoy a queen's 
 palace ? " 
 
 Then uprose the Heroes Five and bathed their feet. 
 
 And the Heroes Five approached and fell to the 
 banquet. 
 
 But a neighbour's wife was peeping. 
 
( && ) 
 
 " When thy lord's mother shall come," quoth she, 
 " verily, I shall carry this tale to her." 
 
 " Amini," spake the Master, " name thy heart's 
 desire," 
 
 " For mickle fortune will I bestow upon thee." 
 
 " Wealth," quoth Amina, " hath the Lord granted 
 unto me without stint ; 
 70. " What have I left to desire of thee ? " 
 
 Father Birahn^ bent down his head 
 
 And unto Amina he spake : — " Auspicious is the 
 hour that hath come." 
 
 Then Amin4 returned her answer, saying : — " Read 
 
 me such a spell, 
 " That whensoever ill-fortune shall betide me, even 
 
 at that hour thou shalt come." 
 
 Then the Heroes Five feasted with a will. 
 
 "With my neighbour's wife," quoth AminS, "I 
 
 will reason." 
 Amina's prayer the Master accorded, 
 And Amina's heart was gladdened. 
 
 Then from the feast uprose the Master and set forth 
 upon his journey. 
 
 ^o. And when he had departed, Amina made ready a 
 posset. 
 Beneath she spread gold, and above she poured 
 pearls. 
 
 And spake : — " Wilt thou not, sister neighbour, 
 accept this my gift ? 
 
 " Amina's gift do thou take unto thy home. 
 
 " And when my lord's mother cometh, carry not 
 this tale unto her ; 
 
( 67 ) 
 
 " For if thou carry the tale, sister, what will it pro- 
 fit thee ? 
 
 "Yet so rare a gift as this, while life remaineth> 
 thou canst enjoy and yet not rise from thy seat." 
 
 " In my mouth," the neighbour's wife made answer, 
 " is a forked tongue ; thy gift I will take ; and 
 yet will I carry this tale. 
 
 " No gift," cried Amina, " will I bestow ; go, carry 
 thy tales where'er thou wilt." 
 
 So Kimna, mother of Amini's liege, returned from 
 bathing in the ocean, 
 
 90. And seated upon a settle was wringing her tresses. 
 
 When unto her came the neighbour's wife and 
 clave unto her ear : 
 
 " What manner of rites. Mother," she cried, " in thy 
 country, 
 
 "That the very charger, from which Nflrchand 
 feasteth, 
 
 " Hath been polluted by the touch of Turks ?" 
 
 Unto her son ran Kimni : 
 
 " Thy bride," she shrieked, " hath wrought a griev- 
 ous wrong." 
 
 King N(irchand hied him to the portal. 
 
 And against his bride he waxed wroth beyond 
 
 measure. 
 And he cast forth his bride from him, 
 100. Nought asked he of right or wrong — he cast forth 
 Amina from his palace. 
 All her gems and robes he bade her doff, 
 
 And a scanty shift he bade her don. 
 Parched mustard-seed was all that AminA took in 
 the fold over her bosom. 
 
( 68 ) 
 
 And Amat and Nimat, to each she gave a finger : 
 The first threshold when Amin traversed 
 In the King's kitchen grew up grass and weeds ; 
 The second threshold when Amin traversed, 
 His wealth and treasure were laid in ashes ; 
 The third threshold when Amin traversed, 
 I lo. Dead fell every elephant in the stalls ; 
 
 The fourth threshold when Amin traversed, 
 Dead fell every charger in his stables ; 
 The fifth threshold when Amin traversed, 
 The King's host was slaughtered ; 
 The sixth threshold when Amin traversed, 
 Every harvest and streamlet was burnt up ; 
 The seventh threshold when Amin traversed, 
 
 A backward glance she threw, and the golden 
 castle blazed up in flames. 
 
 Into one forest she wandered, and, as she drew nigh 
 
 unto a second, 
 1 20. Her two children fell hungry ; 
 
 Then Amin reasoned with her children, saying : — 
 
 " Nought have I in my mantle." 
 
 Yet the parched mustard-seed she took from the 
 
 fold over her bosom. 
 On this side and on that she sprinkled it as she 
 
 went. 
 And called upon the name of the Warrior Saint. 
 The parched mustard-seed taketh root. 
 And as it taketh root, it groweth tall. 
 And Amat and Nimat 'gan pluck it. 
 And, as they ate the mustard, they fell athirst. 
 130. Then they came unto their mother, crying : — 
 " Mother ! Mother ! bring us water, 
 " Quick, give us water to drink." 
 
( 69 ) 
 
 " Here," sobbed Amina, " is neither well nor pool, 
 " How shall I give ye water to drink ? " 
 And again Amini called upon the name of the 
 Warrior Saint, 
 
 Saying : " Unto my sons give thou water to drink ! " 
 
 And straightway there burst forth a fountain from 
 Ghazni's Fort 
 
 And rippled before their feet. 
 
 Then Amin charged her sons, saying : — 
 
 140. " Children, of the water drink yo^r fill." 
 
 When each had sipped five draughts from the hol- 
 low of his hand, 
 
 Then they sat them down by the brink and were 
 
 content. 
 Into the castle came King N(!irchand : 
 " Mother," quoth he, " give unto me to eat." 
 
 Yet every vessel, into which he thrust his hand, he 
 beheld empty. 
 
 Then outspake King Ntlrchand :—" Sorely doth 
 hunger oppress me. Give unto me to eat." 
 
 Whitherso he gazed, on all sides he beheld ashes. 
 
 A sorry nag then the King borrowed. 
 
 And thereon the King mounted and set forth to 
 
 reason with Mother Amina. 
 150. One forest he entered, and a second, and even a 
 
 third, where sat Mother Amin^, 
 Both children brought the tidings to their mother, 
 
 saying : — 
 " Mother ! father is come.'' 
 King NClrchand entreated Amin, saying : — 
 " Turn back, Amin, unto thine home." 
 
 In this wise, sir King," cried Amin, " will I 
 
 never go. 
 
( 70 ) 
 
 " But the Ganges is my sister. Ask thou of her." 
 Straightway King Nflrchand hied him forth, 
 Where floweth Mother Ganges, 
 And on the banks he stood 
 1 60. And called unto Mother Ganges : 
 " Unbidden thou flowest east, 
 " At my bidding, but for two hours, do thou flow 
 
 west. 
 " On thy bank sitteth Amin. 
 " If thou do but flow west, then will she hie her to 
 
 her home." 
 " Behold, King N6rchand," cried the River, "yon 
 
 vessel hath fallen on a dunghill, 
 
 " In that vessel do thou dress thy food, then will I 
 flow west." 
 
 " That," quoth the King, " I cannot do, Mother 
 Ganges. 
 
 " For lost were then all my faith and religion for 
 ever. 
 
 "Wherefore, King Ndrchand," the River made 
 answer, " hie thee back to thine home, 
 
 170. " Upon Amina suffer not thy thoughts again to 
 dwell." 
 
 The King waxed exceeding wroth, 
 
 In his heart he spake : — " I will drag away Amin ! " 
 
 From afar Amin descried him as she gazed abroad. 
 
 Amat and Nimat, her two children, she changed 
 into trees ; 
 
 Amat became an ^w-tree, and Nimat a wf;«-tree. 
 
 Then Amin^ called upon the Warrior: — 
 
 " Let the earth be rent and let me be buried ! " 
 
( ;i ) 
 
 On rushed King Nflrchand, shouting:— "I will 
 
 grasp her by the top-knot and drag her away." 
 The earth was rent and Amin sank buried. 
 
 1 80. And Amin's top-knot turned into grass above the 
 sod, 
 
 And the King turned back, wailing ; for he said : — 
 
 " Verily, doom hath fallen on me for ever." 
 Then Amin cried unto the Warrior Saint : — 
 " Wheresoever thou art worshipped, 
 " There let me too be honoured." 
 Mounted on their chargers came the Brothers Five, 
 And straightway they bore away AminS on a litter. 
 And Amat and Nimat they lifted on their coursers. 
 And they brought Amini unto Bahraich, 
 And there the Heroes Five upraised a shrine ; 
 
 190. Unto the Master the worshipper vows a goat and a 
 cock, 
 
 Unto Amina a shred of cloth is offered. 
 
 And their hymns if but rightly he singeth, 
 
 193. No worshipper of Amin shall lack wealth or 
 offspring. 
 
PART IV. 
 
 THE QUEST OF THE MARE LILLL 
 
( 75 ) 
 
 PART IV. 
 THE QUEST OF THE MARE LILLI. 
 
 Every Jack must have his Jill ; and no Warrior 
 Saint is complete until he has a charger. The exploits, 
 by which Gh^zi Miyan provided himself with the mare 
 Lilli, are clear enough from the ballades, which I have 
 here attempted to reproduce. The question remains, 
 how the mare Lilli came into the possession of Sultan 
 Mahmud. This question is interesting, because it illus- 
 trates the principle that a very large proportion of 
 popular legends are interlaced. It appears a far cry 
 from Ghazi Miyan, nephew of Sultan Malimud, to 
 G(jga Bir, patron saint of the sweepers. In order, 
 however, to explain the prior history of the mare Lillf, 
 I must beg leave to quote the following passage from 
 an essay of mine, dealing with Gflgi or Zahir Pir, and 
 published separately under the title of a " Sweeper 
 Saint." This essay, I may mention, has the authority 
 of Gopal Dis, who is the acknowledged " father " of 
 the Mazhabi LAlbegis of the Benares Division, and 
 from whose narrative the facts are recorded : — 
 
 " The Turks had founded a kingdom at Sirsi. 
 Their king had four daughters : 
 
 (i.) Achhal, 
 (2.) Kachhal, 
 
 (3.) Bichhal, 
 (4.) Mamal, 
 
 renowned for their beauty, and the mare Lilli, whom 
 no horseman could bestride. The Chauhan Rajputs of 
 Bigar, under R&ja Umbar, having invaded Sirsa, 
 slaughtered its ruler, and took captive his mare Lilli 
 and his three eldest daughters. Mamal, however, 
 escaped, because she had already been wedded to Sahfi 
 
( 7^ ) 
 
 SaUr, brother of King Mahmfid of Ghazni. In time she 
 became mother of Ghazi Miy^n, who beat the gong of 
 religion through the corners of Hindtistin. RSja 
 Umbar married Bachhal to his first-born Jewar, who, 
 finding that she was barren, deserted her and became 
 a hermit in the wilderness. Bichhal entered the service 
 of the Saint Gorakhnath, daily praying for children. 
 After twelve years' faithful service, Gorakhnath pledged 
 his promise, saying : — ' Come thou at daybreak, I will 
 give thee a talisman.' Her twin-sister Kachhal, who 
 resembled her in appearance and was also childless, was 
 playing the eaves-dropper. At daybreak, while Bachhal 
 was still sleeping, Kichhal stole to the Saint Gorakh- 
 nath, who presented her with two barley-corns, saying : — 
 ' Eat, verily thou shalt conceive, and bring two sons into 
 the world.' Kichhal returned, laughing and singing to 
 her outwitted sister, who awoke and was distressed. 
 Bichhal hurried weeping to Gorakhnath, who, recovering 
 from his astonishment, hanoed her some resin, saying : — 
 ' Eat this with milk. Verily thou shalt bear a son, who 
 shall overcome the offspring of the traitress Kachhal.' 
 So Kichhal, swallowing the barley-corns {jau), bore 
 two twins whom she named Jaura, while Bachhal, 
 mixing the resin {guggal) with milk, became the mo- 
 ther of one son, whom she called Gi^gd. It so hap- 
 pened that the mare Lilli, licking round the basin ot 
 milk and resin, also became pregnant, and foaled 
 the winged stallion Ltld, which was Gjigd's play- 
 thing. 
 
 After a series of adventures, Guga, having been 
 cursed by his mother for slaying his twin-cousins, was 
 converted to Islam under the title of Zdhtr Ptr, and 
 concealed himself under the earth, leaving his mother 
 and child-wife in extreme poverty. They made over 
 the mare Lilli to Sultan Mahmftd, from whomGhazi Miy^n 
 received her, as stated in the ballade annexed. 
 
( 77 ) 
 
 BALLADE I. 
 TulsJ jangal Vk Ghazi Miyan kheli hai shikar 
 P^wi patta zor Lilli ki Miyin jo Salar. 
 Khel shikar Pir ghar a, e, mukh se harf nikaU, 
 Ek Lilli bina, dil men soche, mori ghar hai khali. 
 Tan dupatta l&ge sone, fikr dilon bich thani. 
 Byakul bikal bha, i Bibi Mamal, Miyan ka maram 
 nahin jani. 
 
 Ki beti Mge deo d^nu ki unki bha, e mani, 
 
 Ki tirya tumh'ri nazar pari hai ki sfjrat dekh 
 lobhani. 
 
 Na Amina mile deo danu, i na surat dekh lobhani. 
 ID. Sultan Mahmud nim mamfi ki Garh Gajan men thani, 
 Unke ghar ek Lilli bata, ur, us par mora dil mfini. 
 Utho, beta, kha, o tata khana Lilli le a, tan tab haii ! 
 Sattar Mu'alia nek bibya khana liye bhar thali. ' 
 
 BALLADE IL 
 Kahe Mira Mas'ud : Suno, Mama! ma, i, 
 Lilli ke khoj mamtj ke yahan, ki uhan patta bha, i. 
 Tab Mayya Mamal ki chalne ki tayyari, sutra sukhpal 
 
 turant sanwari 
 Zor dhum se karefi kuch nek bibya ki agwa, i. 
 Daulat, dunya, mal khazana bahut dam lacjwa, i. 
 Parhen Qur, an rihl ke upar, dhyan dharen !au la, i. 
 20. Garh Gajan men Mamal pahunchi hai, pat rakho turn 
 
 Khuda, i. 
 Tab mile bahin bhayya ta, in : Mere Rabb ka khiyal 
 
 ghanera ! 
 Bihas ke bat puchha bhayya : " Mamal qadam kahan 
 
 ke phera ? 
 
( 78 ) 
 
 Hulse kamal imHn larze, dekhan ke, biran, terS ; 
 
 Lilli kMss bis mahkin}, sun^ tumhire dert. 
 
 Deo bakhshish bhaine ke ti, in, sun, bfran py^re 
 mera. 
 
 Lilli ke nim lil kapr^ nahin, kahan se &, e ham're 
 deri ? 
 
 Daulat kaho, khazina de, \lh, chhakron khftb lacJwS, e ; 
 
 Mulk kaho, pargana de, <an ; t<ah! Lilli ke batla, e ? 
 
 Hithi kaho, halkan cjalkan de, ufl upar 'am^ri chhS., e ; 
 
 30. Ghora kaho, tawela de, ufl, unt ki qatir lagi, e. 
 
 Itni thel mathel ghoron ka eko pasand nahin &, e. 
 
 " Man jo mail kiyi MAmal MA, e kb^ssa tawela, 
 bhayya, deo batS, e." 
 
 BALLADE III. 
 Kachhi, mushki, ta.zi, turkt, kotal, kumait, kallyani, 
 
 Ronghan, tinghan ghore ke kahiye charon hal bakh- 
 
 ana. 
 
 Ghora sufaid nim Bilki moti as jhal ke dina ; 
 
 Ghora surang sandali ke chhita, Ablaqa Burraqi ; 
 
 Dalchini ghora ke kahiye, unki jat batla, e ; 
 
 Ghora samand, nam Darya, }, jepar charhen Pir Dar- 
 gahi. 
 
 Sone ka pakhar sohe Lilli par, kalanghi det rausha- 
 na, i, 
 
 40. Her pher piwat nahin Mamal, kitto det duha, i. 
 
 Phirke a, i apne beta ji ke pas, 
 
 Na mill Lilli, ni pfije as. 
 
 Hanske cjaure Gajana : " Kya, amma, Lilli le a, i ?" 
 
 " Bare bhaflt se mangeo dan, nahin diha biran bha, i." 
 
 " ja, o, amma, baitho cjera, Rabb rakhen jiski bazi ! 
 
 " MamQ ka shahar dhun maifi cjalCli^, Lilli le a, flfl, tab 
 Ghazi." 
 
( 79 ) 
 BALLADE IV. 
 
 Pfinch pir bha, e aswar, tirkash par roda tint ; 
 
 Lawa er ghore ke (ipar, pahunche jahwan ghore pite 
 
 pSni. 
 Lage Bala k? kachahrl, tjera sagar par laga, e, 
 50. Aisan sagar mam<i ka ko, 1 paith ke thah na pawe. 
 Pachim taraf dekhe Bala, chandi se ghat patawe ; 
 Pftrab taraf dekhe Bala, sonan se ghat bandhawe ; 
 Dakhin taraf dekhe Baia, tambe se ghat patawe ; 
 Uttar taraf dekhe Baia, pital se ghat bandhawe. 
 
 Miyan Gajan uthe bol ! " Bha, i Sayyid Birahna, ja, o 
 
 sagar bich nahawe." 
 Itni bat sun, Sayyid Birahna kamar se ItJifig charhawe ; 
 Bandh Ififtg un utar pare sagar ke bich nahawe ; 
 Mara ghota Sayyid Birahna, tale ke chau par utar awe. 
 
 BALLADE V. 
 
 Ba, en adab se khare h(i, e Nirmal aur sijda sis na- 
 wawe ; 
 60. Kare kornish in kahe bat aur kahke subkn sunawe ; 
 
 " pa, 6n hukm, Bala, tore, bazar bich dekhan tamasha 
 jawe." 
 
 Miyan Gajan uthe bol :— " Dekh ke tamasha tfl awe." 
 Karke saiam chale Nirmal (Jaure bazar men jawe. 
 Rakhas ki dehi diha utar, manukh ki dehi charhawe. 
 Bich bazar mefi khare hd, e, tab bahut jat daure awe, 
 Ek Halwa, i ke liha buia, e, unse bhi zikr chalawe : 
 
 " J itni mitha, j ho, e tore shahar men, sabhi mitha, i 
 lawe. 
 
 " Miyan Gajan ka le, fin saugat, badshah ke (^ere jawe." 
 
 Itni bat suna Halwa, i, bari khfishi ho, e jawe ; 
 
( 8o ) 
 
 70. Sare shahar ka lihA mitha, i, tab bar4 arir lagAwe. 
 Ek Halwft, i utha bol : — " MiyAn, gari sai mangAwe." 
 Hanskar bole Nirmal Palihar :— " Bhi, i, thor4 mithi, ? 
 ham khAwe." 
 
 " Thor^ nahin, tft sabhi khi, e, jk ! MiyAn se d^m 
 
 diliwe." 
 Itni b&t suna Nirmal, tab bahut ghussa man kh^we. 
 Manukh ki dehi dihA utir, rSkhas ki dehi charMwe. 
 Ek hath phere Nirmal, tab adhi mitha, i khawe : 
 Diisar hath phere Nirmal, tab tare se dhflr uthawe. 
 
 DO, e char Halwa, i uthe bol : — " Miyan, hamko dam 
 dilawe!" " 
 
 Dasa panch Halwa, i ke pakar liha, mflran se mAr 
 bhirawe. 
 
 80. Daurke Halwa, i sab bhage, Kotwal ke pas chale jawe. 
 
 BALLADE VL 
 Baitha Kotwal utha bol : — " Bha, i, kahya shor mach- 
 
 awe?" 
 Ba, en adab se khare hfl, e, aur sijda sis nawawe ; 
 Kare kornish, in kahe bat aur kahke sukhn sunawe : 
 Baithe Kotwal det hai diiasa :—" Bha, i, tumko dam 
 
 diiawe 1 " 
 DO, e char piyada ke diha bhej ki Nirmal pakar le 
 
 awe. 
 
 Dhal chamkat dekhe Nirmal, tab bahut ghussa man 
 khawe. 
 
 Hath panw jhare Nirmal das panch mar girawe. 
 DaurUe piyada sab bhage, Kotwal ke pas chale jawe : 
 " Wuh adam nahin, haiga deo, vvuh kisd Ue hatli nahin 
 awe ! " 
 
( 8i ) 
 
 90. Itni b&t suna Kotwal, sawari apni mangawe : 
 
 " Adam ho kideo, jhat dekhen ki ham're hath na 
 
 awe ! " 
 Sawari chamkat dekhe Nirmal, tab bahut ghussa man 
 
 kh^we ; 
 Pakar b^g, dete chakkar, Kotwal ke garad mil^we. 
 Daurke KotwS.1 tab bh&ge, Badshah kepas chale j&we. 
 
 Baithe Bidshah uthe bol : — " Bha, i, kahiya shor mach- 
 
 awe ? " 
 Ba, en adab se khare hu, e aur sijda sis naw^we, 
 
 Baithe Badshah det hai dilas^ : — Bh&, i tumko dam 
 diiawe ! " 
 
 Itni bat sun Nirmal daure Bala lag kwe ; 
 
 Ba, efi adab se khare hfi, e aur sijda sis nawawe ; 
 
 100. " Sare shahar ki kha, i mitha, i, mora nahin pet bhar 
 jiwe ! " 
 
 BALLADE VII. 
 Lage Bala ki kachahri, ^era sagar par lag^, e ; 
 Miri Khor, Badshah ka naukar, ghoran ke pilawan 
 
 a, e. 
 Miyyan Gajan uthe bol : — " Bha, i, turn more ho diljini 
 " M^mu ki Lilli kahwin base, tum kaho bat thikani ! ' 
 Yih to jor jom ke mate inki bit ghumawe. 
 
 Tab pakar banh, dete chakkar, wuh Lilli ka bhed bat- 
 Swe : 
 
 " Sat bhij, indhare hai tale, Bala, ko, i thah nahin 
 piwe. 
 
 " Bans bandh Lilli dina piwe, nal se pani pilawe. 
 
 " Sat deo ki rahe chauki, sat cja, in ihan roz khidmat 
 ke awe. 
 
( 82 ) 
 
 no. " Id Baqara 'Id ke nikle Lilli, kisi ke hath nahin awe. 
 " Kitne jawin lige Badshah ke ! sab ke m4r girawe. 
 " Apni khushi se/apne mauj se chal thine par jawe." 
 Tab Mira Khor ke diha chhor, wuh chal (}ere par 
 
 kwe, 
 Pagri phenk diha igu, Badshah se chughli khawe ; 
 " Chore tumh're mare pyase, ham pani kahwan pil- 
 
 awe? 
 
 " Du, e char larke i, e kahwan se sagar par dhum 
 
 machiwe. 
 " Itne men ham mana' kiya, meri b&nh tor wuh cjile." 
 
 BALLADE VIIL 
 
 Tab baitha Badshah utha hai bol : — " He payak ! Bala 
 
 ke pakar tum liwe." 
 Karke salam chali payak, aur (Jaure sagar par jawe. 
 1 20. Bi, en adab se khare hu, e aur sijda sis nawawe ; 
 
 Kare kornish in kahi bat : — " Chal, tumhen Badshah 
 
 bulawe." 
 Itni bat suna Bali, bahut khiishi ho, e jiwe ; 
 " Sayyid Birahna ! 'Ajab Sal4r 1 chalo, hamefi Badshah 
 
 buliwe." 
 Jab Baia jite qila' par, bich Nirmal kharH ho, e jiwe : 
 " Ap sahib jate qila' par, hamko kk farmiwe ? " 
 Sattar gaz ki hai Nirmal aur choti sarag lagiwe. 
 Hanskar bole Miyin Gijani : — " Bhai, sang ham^re 
 
 awe. 
 " Maro lat us qila' meii, tum cjeorhi tor gir5.we. 
 Ek lat mire Nirmal, darwiza tor girawe, 
 1 30, Bhage darwan chobdar Badshah ke khabar lagftwe. 
 
( 83 ) 
 
 Age Bala, pachhe payak B^dshah ke sis navvawe. 
 
 Baithe Badshah uthe bol : — " Kyon deorhi tor girfiwe? " 
 
 " Lamba Nirmal ; niche du, ari ; wuh kyonkar andar 
 awe? 
 
 Lagi thakkar uske sir \<§l, tere deorhi tut kar jawe." 
 
 Phirke Badshah kahe bat:— "Kyon sagar par dhum 
 
 machawe?" 
 " 'Ajab Hathile Sayyid Birahna sigar ke bich nahawe : 
 " Sagar ke bich un kiyi ghusal, kya, sagar bigar tera 
 
 jawe ? " 
 Phirke Badshah kahe bat:— "Kyon meri bazar 
 
 lutawe ? " 
 " Nirmal Palihar, eksang hamar, dekhan tamasha jawe ; 
 140. " Sare shahar ki kha, i mitha, i, vvaka nahin pet bhar 
 
 jawe." 
 Mukh men rumai de, hanse Badshah : — " Bala, achchha 
 
 jawab ham pawe." 
 
 BALLADE IX. 
 
 Haflske Badshah uthe bol : — " Bala, achchha jawab 
 ham pawe : 
 
 " Jo mangna ho, tu le lo, Bala, adhik dam dilawe." 
 Ba, en adab se khare hu, e aur sijda sis nawawe, 
 Kare kornish in kahe bat aur kahke sukhn sunawe : 
 ■ " Lilli khass bas mahkani, suna tumhare cjera : 
 
 " Deo bakhshish bhaine ke ta, in, sun, mamu pyare 
 mera ! " 
 
 Am kbass par baithe hakim mamu mujra lete bole : 
 
 " Ghora leo karo aswari ! tu ka Lilli par bhole ? 
 
 150. " Lilli, badpa, on ki beti, chale pa, ufi ke age, 
 
 "Lilli ke paufi pari paikari, sher dekhkar bhage." 
 
( 84 ) 
 BALLADE X. 
 
 Bala Miyrin, arz kare : — " PS, fin, hukm, Lilli dekhan 
 ja, en ; 
 
 " Je roz Lilli paidA bha, i, Rabb karam likha more tk, 
 in\" 
 
 B-ismi-llah ke kiyi FfitiM, turant bhfl, indhara khole ; 
 
 Man men khush-hil bha, i Lilli ki MiySn GajanS bole. 
 
 Pakar kes bahar le a, en, sab log acharaj mana ; 
 
 Lilli lakar khari kiya, dunya sab karen bakhana. 
 
 Oja, i mochi ke khabar bha, i, turant z!n le k, en : 
 
 " Jo mangna ho, tt le io, mochi, adhik dam dila, en." 
 
 i6o. " An dhan lachmi Rabb bahut diya, mor donon ankh 
 sanv/aro, 
 " Pahile, Baia, mochi ke karo nihai pichhe ghori ki 
 or sidharo. 
 
 Kholke kitab parha Fatiha Pir Bahlim chit laga, e. 
 Khul ga, e netra mochi ka dunya ke acharaj a, e. 
 Sabza zin, sabza bflta, sabza saj sohati, 
 Sabza dastar Pir sai sohe, iX kalanghi paharati, 
 Bha, e aswar Miyan, nikal ga, e, Makanpur a, e, 
 167. Sijda kiya Shah Madar ka : -" Tuhi par laga, e ! " 
 
( 85 ) 
 THE QUEST OF THE MARE LILLI. 
 
 BALLADE L 
 
 In a wild wood of holy basil the Warrior Lord follow- 
 ed the chase. 
 
 There did the Master, that was to be a mighty Cap- 
 tain, hear tell of the prowess of Lilli. 
 
 His hunting done, the Saint hied him to his home, 
 and muttered with his lips : 
 
 " All for want but of Lilli," mused he in his heart, 
 " mine home is empty." 
 
 And he drew his cloak over his head, and laid him 
 down to sleep ; and trouble was established in his 
 heart. 
 
 Full sorrowful waxed Mother Mamal, for she wist not 
 of the Master's secret. 
 
 " Child," quoth she, " hath some demon or ogre beset 
 thee, that thou art fearful of them, 
 
 " Or hath thine eye fallen upon some woman, that, at 
 the sight of her face, thou lustest after her ? " 
 
 " No demon or ogre, mother," spake the Master, " hath 
 crossed my path, nor at the sight of a face do I lust 
 after her : 
 
 lo. " But the fortress of mine uncle, whom men call the 
 King Mahmud, is established at Ghazni ; 
 " In his halls they tell of one Lilli ; 'tis upon her that 
 my heart is set." 
 
 " Arise, my son," cried Mamal, " and eat this steaming 
 porridge. Then straightway will I bring thee Lilli." 
 
 And Sattar Mu'alia, honest soul, brought him a goodly 
 platter of food. 
 
( 86 ) 
 BALLADE IL 
 
 Then spake the Sainted Prince : — " Give ear, Mother 
 
 Mimal. 
 " Seek thou Lilli in mine uncle's halls, for there men 
 
 say she dwelleth." 
 
 So Mother Mfimal made ready for the journey; and 
 straightway they decked for her a gay litter, 
 
 And with the noise of pomp they set forth to escort 
 
 the hallowed dame. 
 Wealth and riches, and goods and treasure, beyond all 
 
 price, she bade them load. 
 And she conned the Holy Writ on the lecturn, and 
 
 fixed her thoughts on it with all her heart. 
 
 20. As Mamal set foot in Ghazni's fort, she cried : — " Save 
 thou mine honour, O Lord ! " 
 
 And so sister met brother. " Manifold," she said, " is 
 the forethought of the Lord my God." 
 
 With a laugh asked her brother : — " Why, Mamal, 
 whence hast thou turned thy foot?" 
 
 " My heart swelleth with joy," spake MSmal, " and yet 
 my conscience trembleth to behold thee, my brother. 
 
 " For the fame of Lilli hath spread abroad even cis a 
 rare fragrance. I have heard that she is in thine 
 hall. 
 
 '' Bestow her as a free gift upon thy sister's son, give 
 ear, my beloved brother ! " 
 
 "Not a black thread," spake Mahmud, "have I that 
 beareth the name of Lilli. Whence should she come 
 unto my halls ? " 
 
 " Ask me for wealth, I will give thee treasure, loading 
 wains to the brim. 
 
( 87 ) 
 
 " Ask me for land, I will give thee a province. Who 
 hath spoken to thee of Lilli ? 
 
 " Ask me for an elephant, I will give thee the very 
 earth-shakers, with canopies to shade thee on their 
 backs. 
 
 30. " Ask for a charger, I will give thee a whole stall ; and 
 string for thee a whole line of camels." 
 
 Yet of all this throng of steeds, not one was to her 
 heart. 
 
 " The one stall," she cried, " whereon Mother Mamal 
 hath set her heart, that do thou show unto her, 
 good brother." 
 
 BALLADE ILL 
 
 Hollow-backed steeds of Cutch, steeds dark as musk, 
 fleet Arabs, Turkish chargers, show-prancers, bays, 
 raven coursers with snowy feet and a snowy star 
 on their foreheads : 
 
 Shaggy cobs, ponies— nay, you had but to name 
 a steed, and he would extol all its points. 
 
 " Yon snow-white charger is named Bilki, with teeth 
 gleaming even as pearls : 
 
 "The chestnut, dappled with sandal yellow, is the 
 piebald Burraqi." 
 
 You had but to name the steed Dalchini, and he re- 
 counted its whole pedigree. 
 
 " Yon bay courser is named D^rya, i and on it rideth 
 the Saint of the shrine." 
 
 " But golden mail glittereth upon Lilli ; and her head- 
 trappings fling abroad their shimmer." 
 
 40. To and fro searched Mamal ; yet found not her end, 
 for all her entreaties, 
 
( 88 ) 
 And so she turned and came unto her son, 
 With Lilli still unwon, and her longing unfulfilled. 
 
 With a laugh Gajan ran to meet her, crying :— " Well, 
 mother, hast thou brought me LillJ ?" 
 
 " In divers ways," sobbed Mamal, " did I entreat the 
 gift : yet my brother hath not bestowed it." 
 
 " Go, mother," cried the Saint, " sit thee down in this 
 our hall, whoever it be to whom God shall grant 
 the day ; 
 
 For mine uncle's city will I card like wool ; and I 
 will carry off Lilli, and then well may ye call me the 
 Warrior." 
 
 BALLADE IV. 
 
 The Heroes Five vaulted into the saddle and drew 
 taut the bowstring over the quiver. 
 
 And scarce gave they the heel to their chargers, than 
 they came unto the pool, where the king's steeds 
 are watered. 
 
 There held the Master his Court, and by the pool 
 pitched his pavilion. 
 
 50. A pool so deep, that of his uncle's henchmen not one 
 had fathomed it to the bottom. 
 
 To the west gazed the Master, and covered the water- 
 stairs with silver ; 
 
 To the east gazed the Master, and overlaid the water- 
 stairs with gold ; 
 
 To the south gazed the Master, and covered the water- 
 stairs with copper ; 
 
 To the north gazed the Master, and overlaid the water- 
 stairs with brass. 
 
( 89 ) 
 
 The Warrior Saint uprose and spake: — "What, ho 
 
 Sayyid Birahna ! go bathe in the middle of this 
 
 pool." 
 These words scarce heard, Sayyid Birahna donned 
 
 his loin-cloth round his waist, 
 And tight-drawn his loin-cloth, plunged down, to 
 
 bathe, into the middle of the pool. 
 One dive took Sayyid Birahna, and fathomed it to 
 
 the bottom. 
 
 BALLADE V. 
 
 On the left with reverence stood Nirmal, and bowed 
 his head in obeisance ; 
 
 60. His greetings done, he said his say, and thus he told 
 his tale : — 
 
 " If so be thy bidding, great Master, fain would I go 
 see the fun in the market-place." 
 
 The Warrior Saint uprose and spake : — " Yea, but, seen 
 
 the fun, straightway do thou return." 
 With a reverence Nirmal departed, and ran off into the 
 
 market-place. 
 
 His demon's form he doffed, and donned the form of 
 a man. 
 
 In the midst of the market-place he took his stand 
 and all sorts and conditions of men ran thronging 
 around him. 
 
 To a sweetmeat-seller he beckoned, and then confided 
 to him : — 
 
 "All the comfits that are in thy city, bring thou 
 hither ; 
 
 "For I would fain bring a peace-offering from the 
 Warrior Saint to the pavilion of your king," 
 
( 90 ) 
 
 These words scarce heard, the sweetmeat-seller waxed 
 exceeding glad, 
 70, And of the whole city he brought together the com- 
 fits, and raised a mighty pile. 
 
 Then a sweetmeat-seller arose and spake : — " Fair sir, 
 needs must thou send for a hundred waggons." 
 
 With a laugh cried Nirmal : — " Nay, good fellow, I 
 
 will eat off one or two comfits." 
 " This is not one or two," cried the sweetmeat-seller, 
 
 " 'tis the whole thou art eating. Off with thee ! See 
 
 us paid by thy Master." 
 These words scarce heard, Nirmal waxed exceeding 
 
 wroth in his heart ; 
 
 His form of man he doffed, and donned his demon's 
 form. 
 
 One hand waved Nirmal, and half the comfits he 
 devoured ; 
 
 The other hand waved Nirmal, and swept away the 
 rest in a whirl of dust. 
 
 Half-a-dozen sweetmeat-sellers arose, and spake : — 
 " Fair sir, see us paid ! " 
 
 A dozen sweetmeat-sellers he seized and banged their 
 heads together. 
 
 80. Off scurried the sweetmeat-sellers, and fled to the 
 High Bailiff. 
 
 BALLADE VL 
 
 From his seat arose the High Bailiff and spake : — Ho 
 there, good fellows ! What means this hubbub ? 
 
 On the left they stood with reverence, and bowed 
 their heads in obeisance. 
 
 Their greetings done, they said their say, and thus they 
 told their tale. 
 
( 9r ) 
 
 From his seat the High Bailiff comforted them, say- 
 ing : — " Good fellows, I will see you paid ! " 
 
 Half-a-dozen watchmen he sent forth to lay Nirmal 
 by the heels. 
 
 The glitter of their bucklers beheld Nirmal, and wax- 
 ed exceeding wroth in his heart ; 
 
 His arms and legs Nirmal whirled around, and laid 
 low full a dozen ; 
 
 Off scurried the watchmen and fled to the High Bailiff, 
 crying ; 
 
 " This is no man. He must be a demon ! None will 
 he own for his master." 
 go. These words scarce heard, the High Bailiff called for 
 his charger ; 
 
 " Be he man or demon," quoth he, " soon will we see 
 whether he will not own me for his master ! " 
 
 The glitter of the charger beheld Nirmal, and he wax- 
 ed exceeding wroth in his heart. 
 
 He laid hold on the bridle. One wrench he gave. 
 Over he rolled the High Bailiff in the dust. 
 
 Off scurried the High Bailiff, and fled to the King. 
 
 From his seat rose the King and spake : — " Good fel- 
 low, what means this hubbub ? " 
 
 On the left he stood with reverence, and bowed his 
 head in obeisance ; 
 
 His greetings done, he said his say, and so he told his 
 tale. 
 
 From his seat the King comforted him, saying : — 
 " Good fellow, I will see thee paid ! " 
 
 Scarce heard these words, off ran Nirmal to the Mas- 
 ter, 
 
( 92 ) 
 
 On the left he stood with reverence, and bowed his 
 head in obeisance ; 
 
 lOO. " Of the whole city," he complained, " have I gobbled 
 up the comfits, and yet I cannot get my bellyful." 
 
 BALLADE VIL 
 
 So the Master held his Court, and by the pool had 
 
 pitched his pavilion, 
 When Mira Khor, the King's henchman, brought all 
 
 the chargers to water ; 
 
 Then uprose the Warrior and spake : — " Good sir, ever 
 wast thou my heart's beloved. 
 
 " Where dwelleth mine uncle's Lillt ? Prithee, tell me 
 true." 
 
 Yet he, distraught with pride and insolence, long stood 
 revolving his words. 
 
 Till the Master laid hold on his arm. One wrench he 
 gave, and soon, I ween, did the henchman tell the 
 secret of Lilli : 
 
 " Beneath seven cellars she dwelleth, great Master, and 
 none hath fathomed them to the bottom ; 
 
 " On the end of a pole give they Lilli her oats, and 
 pour her water down a tube ; 
 
 " Seven demons sit on guard over her, and seven hob- 
 goblins daily come to tend her ; 
 
 1 10. " On Easter-day Lilli is let loose, and owneth none 
 for her master ; 
 
 " Many, I trow, the warriors of the King ! yet one 
 and all hath she laid in the dust ; 
 
 " At her own time and at her own tide doth she return 
 to her stall." 
 
( 93 ) 
 
 Then the Master released Mira Khor, and he fled to 
 the King's pavilion. 
 
 His turban he flung at the King's feet, and played the 
 tale-bearer, whimpering ; 
 
 " Thy chargers die of thirst — yet where shall I water 
 them? 
 
 " ^ handful of urchins have come, God knows whence ! 
 
 and raise a bluster at the pool ; 
 " And when I scolded them, they all but wrenched off 
 
 my arm." 
 
 BALLADE VIIL 
 
 Then from his throne uprose the King and spake : — 
 " Ho, harbinger ! lay me this young Master by the 
 heels." 
 
 With a salute the harbinger departed, and hurried to 
 the pool. 
 
 1 20. On the left he stood with reverence, and bowed his 
 head in obeisance ; 
 
 His greetings done, he spake ; — " Come, the King 
 summoneth thee." 
 
 These words scarce heard, the Master waxed exceed- 
 ing glad, 
 
 " Sayyid Birahna ! Ajab Salar ! " he called, " come, 
 
 the King summoneth me." 
 Yet as the Master hied him forth to the castle, Nirmal 
 
 confronted him on the road, saying ; 
 
 " Fair sirs, ye wend your way to the castle. To me' 
 what is your bidding?" 
 
 Seventy yards doth Nirmal measure, and with his top- 
 knot tips the heavens. 
 
( 94 ) 
 
 With a laugh spake the Warrior Saint : — " Good fel- 
 low, come with me. 
 
 " Give yon castle a kick, and knock down the portal." 
 One kick gave Nirmal, and knocked down the gate- 
 way ; 
 
 1 30. Off scurried the gate-keepers and mace-bearers to 
 carry the tidings to the King. 
 
 First the Master, then the harbinger did obeisance 
 unto the King. 
 
 From his throne uprose the King and spake : — " Why 
 hast thou knocked down my gate-way ? " 
 
 " A long devil is Nirmal," quoth the Master, " and low 
 is thy door-way. How was he to enter ? 
 
 " He knocked his head against the lintel, and it was 
 thy door-way that broke in pieces." 
 
 Again spake the King : — " Why didst thou raise a 
 bluster at the pool ? " 
 
 "Ajab Hathile Sayyid Birahna," quoth the Master, 
 " bathed in the middle of the pool. 
 
 " In the middle of the pool he bathed ; prithee, hath 
 that harmed thy pool ? " 
 
 Again spake the King : — " Why didst thou plunder my 
 market-place ? " 
 
 " Nirmal Palihir," quoth the Master, " is my comrade- 
 in-arms, and he went to see the fun of the fair. 
 
 140. " True it is that of the whole city he devoured the 
 comfits, yet never got he his bellyful." 
 
 Then the King hid his face in his kerchief and laugh- 
 ed, saying : — " Good Master, I am well answered." 
 
( 95 ) 
 
 BALLADE IX. 
 
 With a laugh uprose the King and spake : — " Good 
 Master, I am well answered ! 
 
 " Name thy desire, good Master, for I will bestow on 
 thee plenteous guerdon." 
 
 On the left he stood with respect, and bowed his head 
 in obeisance ; 
 
 His greetings done, he said his say, and thus he told 
 his tale : — 
 
 " The fame of Lilli hath spread abroad even as a rare 
 fragrance ; I have heard that she is in thy hall, 
 
 " Bestow her as a free-gift on thy sister's son ; give 
 ear, my beloved uncle ! " 
 
 Over rich and poor his uncle was sitting at the receipt 
 
 of custom, and spake : — 
 " Take thou a courser and ride him ; why art thou 
 
 distraught on LillJ ? 
 I SO. " Lilli, daughter of a storm-footed charger, outstrip- 
 
 peth the winds, 
 
 "And on Lilli's foot is such a fetter that the very 
 lions flee at the sight." 
 
 BALLADE X. 
 
 The Master pleaded, saying : — " If so be thy bidding, 
 I fain would see Lilli ; 
 
 " For what time LillJ was born, the Lord recorded her 
 as destined for me." 
 
 In the name of God he repeated the opening prayer, 
 and straightway the cellars started open. 
 
 In her heart Lilli was gladdened, thinking ; " 'Tis the 
 Master speaketh ! " 
 
( 96 ) 
 
 And he seized her by the mane, and led her out, and 
 all men were amazed. 
 
 He led forth Lilli and halted her ; and all the world 
 spake his praises. 
 
 Unto Oja, i, the blind leather-seller, came the tidings ; 
 and straightway he brought a saddle. 
 
 " Name thy desire, leather-seller," quoth the Master, 
 " for I will bestow on thee plenteous guerdon." 
 
 1 60. " Full garners and wealth," spake the leather-seller, 
 "hath the Lord bestowed on me without stint. 
 " Heal thou both mine eyes. 
 
 " First, Master, gladden the leather-seller's heart, then 
 hie thee to thy charger." 
 
 The mighty Saint ilung open the hallowed scroll, 
 and read out the opening prayer with all his heart ; 
 
 And the eyes of the leather-seller were unsealed, and 
 all the world marvelled. 
 
 Green the saddle, green the broidery, green the glit- 
 ter of the trappings ; 
 
 Green flashed the turban as befits a Saint, while nod- 
 ded a jewelled plume. 
 
 The Master vaulted into the saddle, and passed forth, 
 and came unto Makanpur ; 
 
 167. And made obeisance before the living Saint, saying : — 
 " Thou alone hast brought me to my goal ! " 
 
PART V. 
 THE DOWNFALL OF KING BANAR. 
 
( 99 ) 
 
 PART V. 
 THE DOWNFALL OF KING BANAR. 
 
 The overthrow of King Banir and his idol Sobha- 
 n&th, in countless variants, is perhaps the most popular 
 subject of minstrels and story-tellers at Benares. King 
 Ban^r, quite apart from this legend, is the eponymous 
 hero of the city ; and Sobhanath is one of the titles of 
 Shiva, of whose worship Benares is the chief stronghold. 
 The name has been selected, however, from a confused 
 reminiscence of Somn&th, where, as readers of Farishta 
 will recollect, Mahmlid of Ghazni earned the title of the 
 "Image-breaker" by an exploit which is palpably the 
 model of the present episode. It would be easy to demon- 
 strate, from numerous instances, that the destruction of 
 temples and idols, attributed to the Warrior Saint, is a 
 conscious reproduction of the iconoclasm of Aurangzeb, 
 over the living effects of which every Magistrate of 
 Benares has expended a stock of impatient language. 
 I select, as a single instance, the statement that " Bi- 
 sheshar leapt into a well," which is an obvious allusion 
 to the submerged figure of Vishwanith, popularly sup- 
 posed to have flung itself into a tank, no doubt with the 
 assistance of its priests, in order to avoid desecration at 
 the hands of the approaching Aurangzeb. I would add 
 that, unlike the other exploits, the present does not 
 constitute a single poem, but a collection of snatches of 
 different ballades, which, I think, carry us over the main 
 outlines of the story. There are, however, certain well- 
 known episodes, which I have never discovered versified 
 
( 100 ) 
 
 though I have often heard them as narratives. Two 
 examples may be interesting : firstly, the " Downfall of 
 King Danii ;" and secondly, the " Miracle that Missed 
 Fire." 
 
 The Downfall of King DdnH. — King Dinfl's castle 
 was at Kantit, overhanging the Ganges, across the Mir- 
 z^pflr border. His tyranny and bigotry were such 
 that he forbade all believers to bathe in the sacred 
 river. To effect this purpose, he ordered every believer 
 to be ferried over with his hands and feet pinioned. 
 The Warrior Saint was strolling about the river-bank, 
 and quietly began to wash his feet and rinse his mouth 
 in the water. " Hi ! Hi ! " cried the watchmen, " is 
 this dog spitting on the breast of Mother Ganges ? " 
 
 They hurried him off into the castle before King 
 D^ntt. " Away with him," cried the tyrant ; " cut off his 
 hands and feet, that they may never again pollute the 
 hallowed river." The Warrior Saint breathed the 
 Opening Prayer. At the first words, his fetters were 
 unloosed. At the second, every charger fell dead in 
 the stables. At the third, the host was destroyed. At 
 the fourth, the castle tumbled thundering in ruins. 
 King Dan{i fled in terror to Bij aypur, where his line 
 still continues ;* but the site of the Kantit Castle re- 
 mains desolate, save for the bloated figure of an elephant 
 which, for some reason, bellows lustily on the evening 
 of the Diwali. 
 
 The Miracle that Missed Fire. — The Warrior Saint 
 felled the idol Sobhan^th with a kick. " Mercy ! " cried 
 the treinbling monster, " I will be thy bondsman. Tell 
 
 * It was owing to the kindness of my friend the present Raja of Kantit, 
 upon whose hospitality I look back with nothing but pleasure, that I was 
 placed in possession of this rustic fable, which, of course, defies all chrono- 
 logy. — Author, 
 
( loi ) 
 
 me what is thy command?" The Saint pondered. 
 "Fetch me," he spoke, "somewater-of-life {ab-i-hayydt)." 
 The stupid monster, believing that water-of-life could, of 
 course, mean nothing but the sacred water of the Ganges 
 {Gangd j'al), rushed off towards the river, which fled in 
 terror at his mistake. " Stop ! .Stop ! " cried the Saint, 
 " inVoke the aid of Khwdj'a Khtzr, or if that name be 
 too hard for thee, call but Khwdja ! Khwdj'a ! " The 
 idol, of course, made a sad jumble of the Persian letters. 
 "Kkdj'd! Khdj'd!" he yelled lustily. The heavens, 
 therefore, by mistake, instead of water-of-life, showered 
 down the sweetmeat known as khdj'd. The Saint, 
 though annoyed at the failure of his best miracle, turned 
 it off with a ready witticism — " Achchhd, khd j'd," he 
 laughed, " eat and be thankful." 
 
 Really, after this, I think we had better get on 
 with the text. 
 
 BALLADE L 
 K^shi nagar ke des mefl jor kufr ki bir^jj ; 
 Garh Gajan men h&I sunnan pa, i Miyan Gk]\ ; 
 " K4shi k& riji bara hai sha,etan, 
 " Sobhanith ke Muslim ki det hai baldan." 
 Sunke kop uthe Miyin Gaji, pach bar naubat bAji, 
 Sang ke yar sab h<a,e tayyS.r, larne ke hu,e raji. 
 Lilli par tang kasw^we Gajana, sajwSwe turki taji ; 
 Niyat khair k& parhi Fitiha, chale toran kufr ke Gaji. 
 Chale fauj, jab ^,e Jaunpiir, <jhan mile Babi H^ji : 
 
 lO. Bala Miyan ke du' k din : " Bala, jit howe tumhari 
 baji." 
 
 'Ala, ipClr men th^na karte, flhan mile sabhi Siiba 
 Kajt; 
 
( 102 ) 
 
 Kaibhairo kk kk kahtin hai ? a,e kutte par KAsJ-Kot- 
 wal ; " Hampar karo gharib-nawiji ! " 
 
 Bole Mimul ka lai ; " Suno, Bhairo KM ! kaho KAsf 
 
 ka hil mose sSiji. 
 " Sobhanath kahin hai tuhir ? kahin Raji Ban^r 
 
 kahan base donon p§.ji ? " 
 
 BALLADE II. 
 Parhe num^j so,e Gijani, gujrl rat jab adht, 
 Eli burhiyi bare dhflm se rache bete ki apne shadf. 
 Hans hafts dan lutawe burhiyi, sai det mubarak-badf, 
 Ro ro bhitar baithe burhiya, sai kare Allah kl faryadi. 
 Itne men nind khuli Bale ki, jdge Birahna raswadi. 
 
 20. P(ichhin hai hawai burhiyi se ; " Ka hafistt, ka rott 
 nekjadi ? " 
 
 Ro,e ro,e hai kahin mati ; " Raja hai kafir fasadi ! 
 " Sobhanath ke baldan det hai Mussulman, shahar ke 
 kare barbadt. 
 
 " Mor chha thor lai, ho,e ga,e halai, kalh satweft ki 
 baji munadl. 
 
 "Aja,e dfit, leja,e pM Ka karihiin pyire ki 
 
 shadi?" 
 
 BALLADE II L 
 Lage dard Pir dil ana. 
 Kahe ; " Amma, gawe suhana ! 
 " Awe sippayya, to hameft batana, 
 Na to hath ka haram hai khana." 
 So,e Gajana, burhiya a,J, 
 30. Rattya afsos men ginwa,i, 
 
( 103 ) 
 
 Tarke sippayyA i,e cjapeta ; 
 " Hajir kai de apan beti ! " 
 Burhiya Gajana dekhe letA, 
 Tap tap roke hukm nameti, 
 Diha Bile ke bata.e. 
 Miyafi lage payak a,e, 
 Hathe palange par laga.e. 
 So,e ajmat Fir dikhia.e, 
 Pal mefl sippayya andh ho,e ja,e, 
 40. Dahineft ba, en girte ja,e, 
 Bart blch mefl rah na pa,e. 
 Haura sunke Miyan jage, 
 Awe sippayyi najur ke age ; 
 Miyan dil mefl rahm lage, 
 Ghussa dilon bich se bhage. 
 Parhe Fatiha netra khole, 
 Hathe sipayya pakar ke bole ; 
 " Turn mat daro hamse, bha.i ! 
 Khata maiik ka to ba.e, 
 50. Raja hamen det buia,e, 
 Chalo Raja lag ham ja,e." 
 
 BALLADE IV. 
 Rajd Banar to rahe kote, 
 Sathe Sobhanath garabh ke mote. 
 Dharke le chaia sipa,t ; 
 Agam Raja ke jana,}. 
 Raja kahta ; " Sobhanath bha,i, 
 "Dha,t Turuka ke d,e ! " 
 
( 104 ) 
 
 Sobhanath hanske bolifi bit ; 
 " Raja, p(iji karo pat ; 
 60. " Kahe Turuka kai bisat ? 
 " Marab, tflte ji.e dat ! 
 " Raja, jano itnJ bat, 
 
 " Apna pftja karo dhyan lau li,e." 
 Bolifi age Dasasumer ; 
 " Raja banke baitho ser ! 
 '' Marab Turuka ke gher, 
 
 " Jiyat ja,e na ghar pher, 
 
 " Ganga kirya, Raja Ram ki duhA,! I 
 
 Dete Raja sab diiasa ; 
 70. " Raja, mat karo nirasS, 
 " A,e Turuka jarra sa, 
 " Baithe dekho tu tamasa, 
 
 " Deb jiyat gor meft to pawi,l ! ' 
 
 Tab ja,e pahunche Miyan Bala, 
 Sang Birahna matwaia, 
 Bandhe sang barchl bhaiS, 
 Kandhe lohlangar bane aia, 
 Dekhat Sobhanath bhae kaia, 
 
 Mare (}ar ke chale dharti meft sama,t. 
 80. Birahna bandhe mashukai (Jor 
 Daure Sobhanath ki or ; 
 " Kyofi td bhage paji chor ? 
 " Deota haiga adam-kbor." 
 
 Kahke mara hai Birahni lat ghusa,t 
 
 T6t ja, e Sobhanath kai dat 
 
 Jhar jhanke patke math 
 
 Ghari gharl jore MiyAn se hath ; 
 
( «05 ) 
 
 " Jtn tt marab, Miyan, l^t ! 
 " Ham apan pflja cjihorab pit, 
 90. " Ab ham chalte tuhre sath, 
 
 " Kahte kalima, lete nam Khuda, t ! ' 
 
 BALLADE V. 
 
 Bala Raja ke farma.e ; 
 
 " Is dam apan hukm laga.e, 
 
 " Deo Sobhanath ke buia,e, 
 
 " Jo kuchh mange use khiia,e ; 
 
 " Mange kb<in, ham apan diia.e, 
 
 " Mange dadh, kbfln-khwar tft sabit ba,e. 
 
 Raja bole tab ghabra,e ; 
 
 " Wuh to patthal hai bana.e, 
 TOO. " Tuhre lag wuh kaisan ja,e ? 
 
 "Khfln ki dfldh wuh kaisan kha.e?" 
 
 Baia chabuk det utha.e ; 
 
 " Sobhanath, d£ldh ki kfalin tft kha.e ? 
 
 Chabuk dekh Sobhanath ghabra,e, 
 
 Hath jor daure bintt mana.e ; 
 
 " Baia, thora d<idh piia.e, 
 
 " Ham to kabh{i kli<in na kha.e 
 
 " Nahaqq hamen det bata.e, 
 
 " Apan khush! khdn baha.e ! " 
 1 10. Baia badhna d(idh mangwi.e, 
 
 Sobhanath apan pas buia.e, 
 
 Kahen ; " Kalima do parhS.e, 
 
 " B-ismi-liah kahke dttdh \A kha,e." 
 
 Gor par gire Sobhandth a,e 
 
( io6 ) 
 
 Pach bar kalima det mana.e, 
 B-ismi-liah kahke dftdh wuh kha^e, 
 Al-hamdu-li-114h kahte j^.e. 
 
 BALLADE VL 
 
 Naubat baji Miy4n Giji, sunke kimpe deotH sab 
 tharthar ; 
 
 Jhunkhen jhunkhen ro, efl bahut, chfi^ ansCl inkh se 
 jharjhar. 
 120. Bent Madho kahin Dasasumer se; " Bha,i, jin kar 
 Turuka se sarbar ! " 
 
 Aur Chaube sab chalen bhag, nahin Mussulman 
 karefi dhardhar. 
 
 Marhai math diha chhor, shivalay chale bhag sab 
 
 darcjar. 
 Mahabir chhipe Ganga tJr, ji, e kuan mefi gire Bishe- 
 
 shar; 
 
 Bhagua chhor Bhagwan purane Mahadeo bhage, bol 
 
 Har! Har ! 
 Sayyid Birahna leke lohlangar tore deotan ke ghar- 
 
 ghar. 
 
 Kitna deota ban men bhag ga,e, kitne Ganga mefl 
 dftbe marmar ! 
 
 Debt Durga leke murga sinni dona bharbhar : 
 
 " Hampar rahm karo Miyan Gaji, tere ghorwan ke 
 dana debefl dardar.'" 
 
 Lage dard mard Gajl ke, diha chhor naknishanl kar- 
 kar. 
 
( 107 ) 
 BALLADE VIL 
 130. Rftja dil mefi 'aql cjauraya, Bahman Paficjit ko bulwAyA, 
 Pothi aur najm khulwiy^, tab kuchh hil Fir ki piyt. 
 Bahman Faficjit najm batlAyi, hai sabhon ne suniyA ; 
 " Gaji Miyan hai unpar to 4p Khuda ka sAyA ! 
 " Jawan 'aurat yahAn bul4,o," najllmiyoft ne farmiyl 
 Kafir beghairat sabhofi ne 'aurat apnl pahun chAya ; 
 Behaya khare kihin 'aurat ke, nafige madarzad taha- 
 
 layai 
 
 Pafichofi Fir uthke pahile to numaj parhdya, 
 
 Jab 'aurat par pari najur, sir katke apan jeb men 
 
 dhaya. 
 Tab Fafichofl Fir saton Raja se jafig mefi barabar kyk. 
 140. Inhi aswar ghorwan ke {Ipar Raja hathi haiaya. 
 Badal sai ran dal jute, tlran maro chhaya. 
 Ure Lilli haude flpar, uparai mar machhaya. 
 Niyat khair parhe Fatiha Bala sang ghumaya ; 
 Sar kata saton Raja ka, lothan garad miiaya. 
 Sab randal phirke bhae taken, ko,i lothan lage nahin 
 
 aya. 
 
 Rajghat ka qila' ulat diya Baia, ek ungli se giraya ; 
 Tab sar apan jeb se nikaike gale mefi baithaya 
 148. Aur shukr bheja Shah Madar ka ki TiM par lagaya ! 
 
 BALLADE /. 
 
 In the realm of Kashi reigned the terror of unbelief; 
 
 In his fortress of Ghazni the Warrior Saint heard these 
 tidings ; 
 
 " The King of Kashi is a very devil ; 
 
 " Unto Sobhanath he offers up sacrifice of believers." 
 
( I08 ) 
 
 And as he heard these tidings, the Warrior Saint 
 uprose in anger ; and five times thundered his ket- 
 tle-drum ; 
 
 Of his comrades-in-arms every man was ready and 
 
 eager for the fray. 
 Then the Warrior Saint bade them tighten Lilli's 
 
 girths, and caparison their chargers ; 
 
 But one devout prayer he breathed, and the Warrior 
 was afoot to break down unbelief ! 
 
 Forth sped the host, and when they came unto Jaun- 
 pur, there the Pilgrim Father met them ; 
 
 10. Unto the Master he gave his blessing, saying ; " Master, 
 mayest thou win thy stake 1 " 
 
 And as they encamped them at 'Alaipur, there all the 
 law-givers of the provinces met them ; 
 
 What shall I say of Kaibhairo ? He, High Bailiff of 
 Kash!, came riding on his dog-charger, crying : — 
 " Have mercy upon us ! " 
 
 Then spake the son of Mamal ; " Give ear, Bhairo 
 
 Kai I of Kashi, prithee tell me true : 
 " Where is your vaunted SobhanAth ? Where is King 
 
 Banar ? Where dwelleth this brace of miscreants ? " 
 
 BALLADE IL 
 
 His orisons spoken, the Warrior slumbered. When 
 the night was half spent, 
 
 An old good-wife, with much ado, was holding the 
 wedding of her son. 
 
 With many a laugh the good-wife would bid the 
 throng scramble for largess, and a hundred times 
 would she say ; " God bless you I " 
 
( 109 ) 
 
 Then again with many a tear would the good-wife sit 
 within, and a hundred times cry to God for suc- 
 cour. 
 
 So it was that the Master's slumber was broken, and 
 Birahni awoke ready for a quarrel ; 
 
 20. And they asked the good-wife what had befallen, say- 
 ing : — " Why dost thou laugh and then weep, good 
 mother ? " 
 
 With many a tear the old mother told her tale, sob- 
 bing : — " Our King is an unbelieving brawler ! 
 
 " Unto Sobhan^th he offereth believers as sacrifice, 
 and so makes havoc of the city. 
 
 " My six little boys h^ve already been butchered. 
 Yestereve the seventh hath been proclaimed by beat 
 of drum ; 
 
 " The emissary of death will come and carry off my 
 child — Ah me ! Why should I bestir me about my 
 darling's wedding ?" 
 
 BALLADE IIL 
 
 Sorrow 'gan beset the heart of the Saint. 
 
 He spake : — " Mother, sing thy wedding strain ; 
 
 " When the beadle cometh, do thou point to me, 
 
 " Else accursed be the food eaten at thy hand 1 " 
 
 So the Warrior fell asleep. The old housewife drew 
 nigh unto him, 
 
 30. And counted out the hours of the night in sorrow. 
 At peep of day came the beadle and snarled ; 
 " Bring forth thy son ! " 
 The old housewife saw the Warrior lying, 
 And with streaming eyes she broke the best, 
 
( no ) 
 
 And pointed to the Master. 
 
 The emissary drew nigh unto the Master, 
 
 And upon the couch he placed his hand ; 
 
 But, even asleep, the Saint shewed a sign of power ; 
 
 For, in a twinkling, the beadle was smitten blind ; 
 40. Right and left he groped staggering. 
 
 And amid the orchard could not find his path. 
 
 At the sound of the hubbub the Master awoke, 
 
 And the beadle met his gaze. 
 
 Then was the Master's heart beset with sorrow, 
 
 And all anger fled from his breast. 
 
 One opening prayer he breathed and unsealed the 
 man's eyes, 
 
 And clasped the beadle by the hand and spake ; 
 
 " Fear nought of me, brother ! 
 
 " Verily the sin is thy master's. 
 50. " Doth the King call for me ? 
 
 " Come, let us to the King," 
 
 BALLADE IV. 
 King Ban&r sat in his castle, 
 With him Sobhanith bloated with pride. 
 So the beadle led away the Master ; 
 But the King had an inkling of what was to come, 
 And spake : — " Brother Sobhanith, 
 " A power of Turks hath come." 
 Sobhanath laughed and answered ; 
 " Sir prince, perform thy devotions ; 
 60. " Small truck, I ween, are these Turks ; 
 
( "I ) 
 
 " One blow, and I will break in their teeth ! 
 
 " Be assured of that, sir prince. 
 
 " Nay, perform thy devotions and be of good cheer." 
 
 Then outspake Dasasumer ; 
 
 " Play thou the King and sit unmoved ; 
 
 " For, if but once I smite these Turks, 
 
 " Not one will go back home alive, 
 
 " I swear it on the Ganges, and call King RAma to 
 witness I " 
 
 So all were giving solace to the King, saying ; 
 
 70. " Sir prince, be not downcast ; 
 
 " There hath come but a handful of Turks. 
 
 "Sit thou still and watch the fun of the fair, 
 
 " For without a blow will we clap their legs into the 
 stocks ! " 
 
 Then it was that the Master arrived, 
 With him Birahna, drunk as ever, 
 Girt with trident and javelin and lance, 
 His shoulder aglitter with a friar's chain. 
 At the sight Sobhanith turned ashy, 
 And in terror buried himself beneath the earth. 
 80. Birahna tied a rope in a slip-knot. 
 And rushed upon Sobhanith, crying ; 
 " Why flee'st thou, scoundrel of a thief ? 
 " A fine demon art thou and devourer of men ! " 
 As he spake, Birahna smote him with foot and fist, 
 And dashed in were the teeth of Sobhanith. 
 With many a helpless glance he smote his head on the 
 ground, 
 
( "2 ) 
 
 And ever elasped his hands before the Master, beg- 
 ging ; 
 
 " Kick me not, fair sir ! 
 
 " Verily I will forsake my devotions. 
 90. " Henceforth will I follow thee, 
 
 " Ever repeating the creed and calling on the name of 
 thy God 1 " 
 
 BALLADE V. 
 Then spake the Master unto the King ; 
 " Even now do thou give thy hest, 
 " And call Sobhanath to thy side. 
 " Whatsoever he shall ask, do thou give it to him to 
 
 eat; 
 " Ask^ie for blood, I will offer mine own ; 
 " Ask he for milk, thou art a proven shedder of blood," 
 Then spake the King bewildered ; 
 " Why, he is fashioned of stone ! 
 100. " How shall he wend him to thy side ? 
 
 " How shall he drink either blood or milk ? " 
 The Master uplifted his scourge and cried ; 
 " Sobhanath, drinkest thou milk or blood ? " 
 At the sight of the scourge Sobhanath was terrified, 
 And, clasping his hands, ran forward with entreaty ; 
 " Great Master," he cried, " give me a little milk to 
 drink, 
 
 " Never yet have I drunk blood, 
 " Of his malice doth he name me as the cause, 
 " Of his own pleasure doth he bid blood to flow." 
 110. Then the Master called for a goblet of milk. 
 
( "3 ) 
 
 And called Sobhan&th unto his side, 
 
 And spake :— " Do thou repeat the creed 
 
 " Give thanks in the name of my God and drink thia 
 milk." 
 
 Sobhanath drew nigh and fell at his feet ; 
 
 Five times did he repeat the creed ; 
 
 In the name of God he gave thanks and drank the 
 milk, 
 
 And drew back, crying : — " Praise to the Lord I " 
 
 BALLADE VL 
 Loud thundered the kettle-drum of the Warrior Saint, 
 
 and at the sound every idol trembled in terror ; 
 With many a sob they wept their fill, and tear-drops 
 
 dripped and trickled from their eyes. 
 
 1 20. Quoth Beni M4dho to Dasasumer : — " Brother, strive 
 not against these Turks ! " 
 And every pilgrim-father fled for fear that the Faith- 
 ful were at his heels. 
 
 So they forsook cloister and fane, and all fled in 
 
 terror to the temple of Shiva ; 
 Mahabir hid on the banks of the Ganges, and Bishe- 
 
 shar flung himself into a well ; 
 
 Bhagwin flung off his very breech-clout to run the 
 faster into the ancient fane of the Great God, cry- 
 ing : — " Heaven defend us ! " 
 
 Sayyid Birahni uplifted his friar's chain and shivered 
 house after house of the gods. 
 
 How many the gods that fled into the forests ! How 
 many that plunged into the Ganges and yet were 
 drowned ! 
 
( "4 ) 
 
 Durga Debt brought a charger, loaded with a cock 
 and comfits and strings of betel, crying ; 
 
 " Have pity upon me, Warrior Saint ! I will grind the 
 oats to feed thy steeds." 
 
 Then pity seized upon the Warrior Saint and he 
 spared her, only slashing off her nose. 
 
 BALLADE VH. 
 130. Deep pondered the King in his heart, and called for 
 his priests and doctors ; 
 
 Their scrolls and their star-lore he bade them unfold. 
 
 Then he gained an inkling of the power of the 
 
 Saint. 
 The priests and the doctors read the stars, and thus 
 
 they proclaimed their answer ; 
 " On the Warrior Saint resteth the shadow of God 
 
 himself. 
 " Call hither your comeliest virgins I " Such was the 
 
 bidding of the star-seers. 
 
 All the unbelievers, lost to shame, brought up their 
 
 women-folk, 
 And shamelessly they drew up their women disrobed, 
 
 and bade them walk abroad naked as from their 
 
 mothers' womb. 
 Then the Heroes Five uprose, and first they breathed 
 
 a prayer ; 
 
 When upon the women fell their gaze, they cut off 
 their own heads and placed them in their pockets ; 
 
 Then the Heroes Five entered the lists with all the 
 seven princes on equal terms ; 
 
 140. And upon them, mounted but on chargers, the 
 King urged his elephant ; 
 
( IIS ) 
 
 Even as a thunder-cloud the hosts gathered, and arrows 
 darkened the sun like a wedding canopy above 
 them ; 
 
 But the mare Lilli flew up on the tower on the King's 
 elephant, and there aloft 'gan battle. 
 
 With heart unspotted the Master breathed the 
 opening prayer, and brandished round his trident, 
 
 And cut off the heads of all seven princes, and laid 
 low their corpses in the dust. 
 
 Then did all the host cast their eyes backward, and 
 none drew nigh unto the corpses. 
 
 The fortress of Rajghat did the Master overthrow ; 
 with but one finger he dashed it to the ground ; 
 
 Then forth from his pocket he drew his head, and 
 upon his neck he placed it, 
 
 148. And sent up a prayer of thanksgiving to the Living 
 Saint, saying : — " Thou alone hast brought me to 
 my goal ! " 
 
PART VI. 
 THE WARRIOR SAINT'S WEDDING. 
 
( "9 ) 
 
 PART VI. 
 THE WARRIOR SAINTS WEDDING. 
 
 This touching song was composed by Shah Muham- 
 mad and sung by Khushihil Bans. Its subject is the 
 wedding and martyrdom of the Warrior Saint, in which 
 the orthodox traditions are closely followed. The opening 
 verses, however, contain a pretty variant of the story of 
 his birth on the one hand, rejecting the coarser details of 
 the navel-string, and on the other, interweaving a vision, 
 wherein M^mal is taunted by a circle of those shepherds 
 whose slaughter was to provoke her son to hurry from his 
 wedding to the fatal battle-field. The whole legend, 
 touching as it appears, is, of course, an angle by Muslim 
 minstrels for the suffrages of the Hindu populace, with 
 whom there is nothing like a " rescue of the cow " for 
 baiting the line. No one is struck by the absurdity of a 
 story in which a Mussulman hero, with his burnt-offerings 
 at the Heifer Festival (Baqara 'Id) is supposed to follow 
 the hue and cry to the rescue of a cow. Just as the Pali- 
 har legend is, to a great extent, paste and scissors from 
 the Ramayana, so the present, as evidenced by the names 
 of jaso and Nanda, has indented largely on the story of 
 Krishna. 
 
( I20 ) 
 
 BALLADE L 
 jage bans MAmal ke, jab hCl.e GAjan aise pflt : 
 Kat kufr islam kiya, bhage deo danfl sab dClt. 
 Rahe Gajan pir bale bhole larle Saiar ; 
 
 Nit uth Mamal pyar kare : " Mujhe bakbshi Zinda 
 Shah Madar." 
 
 SahQ Salar se, arz kare Mamal : " Mandn tumh'ra 
 
 ihsan. 
 " Shadi ka saman karo, hat ja,e dil ka arman." 
 
 Karte saman arman bhari: "Na raha Ghazf, hai 
 
 mera! 
 " Jag rahe bidhans, bans ke khatir sahflfl bipat ghan- 
 
 era. 
 "Kokhya khatir dukhya ho,e, nikaiaft phirftfl mulk 
 
 chauphera. 
 lo. " Maifi to pir faqlr A114h-walt manaflfS thahar thahar 
 
 sab hera. 
 
 " Phirke chauphera Ajmir ja pahuncheflft, jahwati 
 Khwaja ka dera. 
 
 " Maifi to ki, ftft salam. Nam le, flfl Khwaja ka. Ma- 
 nflfi murad : ' Ek bans bin jag hai andhera ! ' 
 
 " Mujhe mila jawab shitab rauze se : ' ja, Mamal, 
 ghar ! nihin kuchh qabtt mera.' 
 
 " Meri tflti as. Ghar chale.fifi niras. Mujhe Jamun 
 Jati ne phera. 
 
 "Mujhe diya dilAsa : 'Pujihefl asa, ai Mamal, hai 
 Rabb ka khiyai ghanera ! ' 
 
 " Maifl to Zinda Shah Maddr ki chaukhath chflme, flfl. 
 Man(ifi murad: ' Mori plije as dil kera.' 
 
 " Maifi to shewa tahal ki, afi, Zinda ki latefl se darbar 
 buharlifi subh o sham, donofi tera. 
 
( 121 ) 
 
 " Maift to Shahanshah ka chilla bindhdfi, kuchh din kt, 
 flfi pachhera ; 
 
 " Mera Rabb sihib ka khel 'aja.ib, qudrat ki bahti 
 daryio, jahwafi rahe nao na berft. 
 
 20. " Mujhe Ztnda Shah Madar ki mil! basharat : ' Qismat 
 thonk, maro gbota, Mamal, le lo ! bara,e hfra mot! 
 lal, jo shauq man tera.' 
 
 " Nihura.i math, jab cjaWn hath, jab se agam bhawa 
 anjhora 
 
 " Mujhe Zinda Shah Madar ka hfl.a hukm tha : ' Karo 
 nahan, Mamal, a, iho Hajj sawera.' 
 
 " Harakat sha,etant nindya alsani, so ga, fin bete sang. 
 Hogaya Hajj sawera. 
 
 "Tuk lagi ankh. Khwab ek dekhfin. A.e.Gwaio 
 
 chhera : 
 " Byah ke roz Shahid hofige Bahlim, kar sang fauj 
 
 darera ! 
 
 "Yehi chfike, M. Qaul bhul bhawa mose. Raha 
 adin ka phera. 
 
 "Ji, era dharake, agam Ifihke, a,e wuhi jfln, wuhi 
 bera. 
 
 " Tum Sayyid 'Umar ghar bhejo khabar ab. Mat la,o 
 kuchh bera ! " 
 
 Kahe Sahfi Saiar : " Mamal rahe qararse, bhali ghart 
 se chhera : 
 30. " Mujhe fikr soch roz din iage,charheGajan sir sahera." 
 
 BALLADE II. 
 
 Kahl Mayya Mamal Sahii Saiar se: " Mano bat 
 hamari : 
 
 " Sayyid 'Umar ghar bhejo khabar, ab karo byah kt 
 tayyari." 
 
( 122 ) 
 
 Kahi Mayya M^mal Sahtt SAiar se : " Bahman bulwft 
 lo Mil," 
 
 Pft,ik ek bhej, Bahman bulw^.e ; de baithe ko akhat 
 
 dharawe thali. 
 " Turn pothi khol dekho, Bahman, le dekh Bed kJ 
 
 chair." 
 
 Bahman hoshyar laga karne shumar, gina ginti, mas 
 
 sambhalj : 
 " Jeth mas din para ittiwar, Mamal, sajjo barat, bhejo 
 
 bari o daU ; 
 " Yihi khfish-khabari kah do 'Umar ghar ; mang leo 
 
 chhap rumaii." 
 
 Beore ka bhed ek M,k jiahir ; hoihe honiwai! : 
 40. " Jih din Gajan a,ihefl byahan, ho,ihefl mar tjhar, 
 
 aise uthe fauj, jaise ghata ho kalJ, 
 " Sfir bir ran pa,en ghao, karhen badanon ki lali, 
 " Gajan khifichefi tegha, loth giren, gire pare afig, jang 
 
 men ho,e unjyali." 
 Beore ka bhed yihi h(i,a gahir, ho.ihefi honiwait. 
 Bed ka kaha hot hai wuhi jeki nirmal jat nirali. 
 Bidhna ka likha makkhi na tale hai ; ja, ihefi Bed na 
 
 kbaiJ. 
 
 BALLADE ILL 
 
 Fikr soch kl bat Mamal dil se diya bhuia,f. 
 
 Rit rasm karne lag}, so ubtan diya charha,}. 
 
 Kahi Mayya Mamal : " Karo kam, ab honi ho, so 
 ho,e. 
 
 " Dekh le, fifi jilwa Pir Bahlim ka, ab rakhe Khuda yk 
 kho.e." 
 50. Dekh dekh Pir Bahlim ko Mamal ghar} haflsi, ghar} 
 ro,e, 
 
( '23 ) 
 
 Phir dil ko tMm, k^m yih karti, le pAni muflh dho.e. 
 
 Ji.Clra khol, ji, a samjhawe : " HirA moti Ml piro.e 
 
 " SabhJ Iut|,e de,{lfi G§.jan par, parti khet bo.awe : 
 
 " Upaje dhan man, karefi kalol : ja,ihefi Gijan, jaise 
 agam mori batliwe." 
 
 Chun chun milin bel kali se 'atr gulib karmo.e ; 
 
 Dhara pas se pas Gajan ke, Gajan pir bel kail meft 
 mohe. 
 
 Das panch sakhi jhaleft benyafS, Gajan sukh nindyA 
 so,e. 
 
 Sayyid ^Umar ghar Rani Zuhr4 baithi Gajan ko johe. 
 
 BALLADE IV. 
 Likh likh Mamal neota pathawe, khabar bha.e sajja des, 
 
 60. Dh<jm pare Mamal ke marwe, de bator kunba sab 
 
 khwes. 
 Dh6m pare Mamal ke marwe, neotahre sab awe. 
 Sah(i Saiar kare sab ko pyar daure majlis baithawe. 
 Hota rag, baja sab baje, gotin mangal gawe. 
 Kare ta 'am tayyar Sayyid Saiar sabko khana khilawe. 
 Wuhi sa,at pir a,e nakchani, tab Mamal shakkar 
 
 ghurawe. 
 Kore kore ghara bharefl sab sakhyafi rahsat pani lawe. 
 Negi jogi bhikhii bhikhari mafigen dan so pawe. 
 Sandal, kt chauki baithe Pir Bahlim na,e khara nah- 
 
 lawe. 
 Sihra makhna bandhe chun chun kapra pahinawe. 
 70. Bar bar dulhe ke flpar Mamal dan lutawe : 
 
( 124 ) 
 
 BALLADE V. 
 Jab se Mamal din lut4we, rahas rahas kare bit : 
 " Aj Gajan dulha bane, mere yih! fahe munijit ! " 
 , Sije barSt, khare du,ar par, Lillt uthe thanfi.e, 
 Sciton bcijan bijan lige, — itne men JclswA a,e. 
 Le le nUm Pir Bahllm k§, wuh dene lige doha,i, 
 Baithe Gajan blch maro mefl, Jiso pesh to a,e : 
 " Meri sunleo 'araz gharaz, Pir Bahlim tab byih ko 
 ja,e: 
 
 " Raja Sohaldal garabh gomanl teri gayyi berhe ja,e 
 
 " Gajan ki doha, i manat nahin Gwai, na pare lara,i ; 
 
 80. ■ " Mare jfijhe Gwai, hfi,e ghayal, lohu men ga,e na- 
 ha,e ! " 
 
 jaswa ka ahwal sun, hfl,e jalal, pir uth a,e 
 
 Gajan sang bha, e tayyar, bandha tegba'talwar, chhuri 
 
 katarJ bhala, sab hathyar laga.e. 
 Itni bat suni Mayya Mamal, tab Baia ke pas chail a,i : 
 
 " Turn mat ja,o ran ko, lare, tumhefi bare Bhag se 
 pa,e. 
 
 " Kya kahflfi ? samjhe tuM ekaha na, Sohaldal rar 
 macha.e. 
 
 " Mujhe dJn islam ka deo kam ; mat roko, Mamal 
 ma.e I " 
 
 BALLADE VL 
 
 KahJ Mayyft Mamal : « Ran mat ja, beta, shad! terl 
 thani hai. 
 
 "Tujhe Gajan dulha bana,fifl, Saysn'd 'Umar ghar 
 dulhin 'ajab bani hai. 
 
 " Chandwe ke tale baitho, Fir Bahltm, resham dor tani 
 hai. 
 
( 125 ) 
 
 go. " Gayyft berh ji,e ? jdne do ! tere ghar gayyA kitnJ 
 hai. 
 " Dfldh bhat se thai safiwarflfi, ghl shakkar sani hai : 
 
 " Turn khana kha,o so,o sukh nindya, meri gharaz 
 itni hai." 
 
 Baia diha diiasi Mamal ko, aur kaha bat jitni hai : 
 " Raja Sohaldal garabh gomani, wuh be-khabar abhi- 
 
 mani hai. 
 " Guzar balihar hdk ; mujh par goli tegh hani hai. 
 " Khari jaswa 'araz kare, wuh qalaq karti hai. 
 " Gayya guhar kaise na lagfin, kaun shauq apnl hai ? 
 " Ghari ek dekho, Mayya Mamal, akhir fana fani hai. 
 
 " Jo aya, so ko,i na rahe ; — kul ka maiik, Maula ! ap 
 dhani hai." 
 
 BALLADE^ VII. 
 100. Ro ro Mamal sar dhuni aur tan mefi lage ag : 
 ■• GhazJ mera ran ko chala ! — phflti ham'ra bhag." 
 Tuk jhuke ankh, kh\yab ek dekha, Bala chaunk uth 
 
 jaga. 
 
 Sftpne mefi bhed kiya sab ma'lflm gayya guhar ; uth 
 
 jaga. 
 
 Sihra makhna cher, bandha phera jurwa ka ; Lilli pith 
 charhe Bahlim ruWjsat Amma se mafiga : 
 
 " Turn diidh bakhsh do, Ammi, mere leo khol kafighan 
 
 ka dhaga. " 
 
 " Bakhsha Rab ko, beta, tumko, ab ranko turn ja,e ga." 
 
 Sattar Salar ghore hfl,e aswar, aur Birahna sang 
 mefi laga ; 
 
 Bara bifika bha,e agfl, baja khQb baja. 
 
 no. Lilltpar se lalkare PJr Bahlim : " Raja, khararahega ! " 
 
( 126 ) 
 
 " Maifl khinchflfi tegh, ghkrat kardilfifi, din nabl kft. 
 barhega. 
 
 " Kitne rao, pftri kar a,e, RAji Sohaldal se bhig 
 niUal gaya." 
 
 BALLADE VIIL 
 Safe jang mefi kiyH hai (Jera, hote fajar Sohaia ko 
 
 ghera ; 
 Uke jflm ga,e fauj, rao batore, sajje Sohaldal bhare. 
 
 Bala Sayyid Saiar kiha sabko aswar, charh daure 
 asware. 
 
 Dekha maidan, laga chhutne ban, donofl fauj bha.e 
 tharhe. 
 
 Zuhra Saidant, agam jane, wuh kare lagt lacharl. 
 Tapke afisfl Zuhra ko samjhawefi gotin sarJ. 
 Sunker a,e Sayyid 'Umar wuh karne lage dildari : 
 120. " Kya, dukh dard para tujh par ; batia do, meri pyari ! 
 " Raja Sohaldal se pad lara,i ; mar chamkat hai 
 chhuri katarJ. 
 
 " Mere laute bhag, daras dekhfifi Bahlim ; phir ga.dfl 
 
 tort balihari. 
 " Turn kahe ko shadi thano, 'Umar, main phir barl ki 
 
 bari." 
 
 BALLADE IX. 
 Sayyid Saiar, Lilli aswar, ran mefi tayyar, 
 Idhar udhar se jake, dekho, so chamak rahe talwar : 
 Safe jang mefi pahunche ja,e hott lara,! log dekh 
 
 dekh ghabrata, 
 Faujofi ka rel thai, ghorofi ka hatht udhar hai khata. 
 Ttr tufang barse ran bhitar, jyofi badal jharyata, 
 Chhuri katari tegh tegha chamke gole goia jharrati. 
 
( 127 ) 
 
 1 30. Lilli asw&r, hath jhiime talwdr, larta dulha sang Sattar 
 Sai^r, lag] honi mar, pir sagrofi dal tharrita. 
 Bhari talwar bandhe Palihar jab ran ke bich hal jata, 
 Kare ek w^r, gira,efi ka,i hazir ; w^ke fauj havktk. 
 
 Lihe loh langar lare Birahna, wake age sahwen nahin 
 ata. ~ 
 
 Bhage pherefl, hath nahin aweft, ghao badan nah!n 
 
 khata. 
 
 Khaiflch loh langar Birahna Raja Sohaldal, giri 
 garabh ka mata. 
 
 Jab ha,a fath, naubat lagi jharne, tab dulha hubata : 
 
 Gawa Sohalwaie hha Iflt, Bala gayya pherjata. 
 
 Jab lagi dhfip — raha Jeth mahina, — Gajan rang bhinA ; 
 laga chiine pasina ; ek darakht tale chhaflta : 
 
 Likha taqdir ka yihi raha : " Ek tir ghaib se lage pir 
 ke, tab dulha murjhata." 
 
 140. H6,e Shahid, gire Pir Bahlim ; Baba Birahna liha god 
 men, ro ro bil khata. 
 
 Ihi suna Zuhra, sar pite lagf, ro,i Mamal din rata. 
 
 Garh Bahraich baithe ja,e, jahaft log tamasha jata. 
 
 As murad sabke laga purwe — Kyoii sewak ghabrata ? 
 
 Andha pawe ankh, korhi pawe kaja, banjhin god 
 
 khiiata. 
 
 An dhan Lachhmi diiahe Pir Bahlim, raho janambhar 
 
 khata! 
 
 Inscription : 
 
 Mere Gurih Shah Muhammad, sher-sflrat, jih mohe 
 
 gyaft diiata. 
 
 Khflshihai Bans, ise jih gawe, mera dukh sankat 
 
 "Tiatjata. 
 
 Dusri dafa'a dekhftfi Darbar, mera man rahjata, 
 149. Rauze ke flpar laga bhaura, lahar lahar lahrata. 
 
( 128 ) 
 BALLADE /. 
 
 Then indeed was Mimal's home brightened, when 
 such a son as the Warrior was born unto her. 
 
 For he cut down unbeUef, and into faith he turned it 
 till fled was every god and demon : 
 
 While the Warrior Saint, that was to be a mighty 
 captain, was yet a babe, guileless and of all petted, 
 
 Mimal would ever fondle him (and say) : " 'Twas the 
 Living Saint that granted thee unto me." 
 
 (So now) she implored Sihil Sil|r, saying ; " Much 
 thanks will I owe thee, 
 
 " If thou will prepare the wedding, (whereby) will be 
 put aside the bodings of my heart." 
 
 Yet even as he prepared the wedding, her heart was 
 filled with (fresh) bodings ; I for she thought ) ; 
 " Erewhile the Warrior was not. Now he is mine. 
 
 " Dreary was the world, and to gain a child I suffered 
 divers sorrows. 
 
 " All for my womb was I afflicted, and I wandered 
 through the realm to all four quarters. 
 
 10. "I prayed unto saints and friars and men of God, 
 whom from place to place I sought. 
 
 " Thus as I roamed to all four quarters, I came unto 
 Ajmir, where the Prophet hath a tomb. 
 
 " There did I bow my head, and call on the name of 
 the Prophet and beseech him, saying ; ' For the 
 lack of but one child all this world is dark unto me.' 
 
 " Straightway from the shrine did I receive answer ; 
 ' Back to thy home, Mamal ! for herein I have no 
 power.' 
 
 " Shattered was my hope, and hopeless I departed : 
 but the nun Jamuna bade me return. 
 
( 129 ) 
 
 " She comforted me, saying ; ' Verily, thy hope shall be 
 fulfilled, MAmal, for divers are the ways of the Lord.' 
 
 " So I kissed the threshold of the Living Saint, my 
 tresses swept his shrine, both morning and evening : 
 
 " For forty days did I fast upon the King of Kings ; and 
 fqr many a day I sought after him : 
 
 " Wondrous, I ween, are the pranks of the Lord ; yet 
 His power streameth as a torrent, whereon no boat 
 or raft can live. 
 
 " Then unto me the Living Saint vouchsafed (in a 
 vision) these glad tidings ; ' Be stout of heart ! dive 
 in, MSmal, and clutch into thy grasp. Diamonds 
 and pearls and rubies shalt thou gain, whatsoever 
 thy heart desireth.' 
 
 20. " I bowed my head. Into the water I thrust mine hand_ 
 Then broke the dawn of my hope. 
 " But this was the best of the Living Saint unto me : 
 ' Bathe, MSmal, and visit me at the matin pilgrim- 
 age ! ' 
 
 " By the promptings of the Evil One I was heavy with 
 sleep : and I slumbered on with my (new-born\ 
 child, till the matin pilgrimage was over. 
 
 " My eyes closed. I saw a dream. Shepherds came 
 and taunted me, saying : 
 
 " ' On his wedding-day shall the Chief become a martyr, 
 as he leadeth his host to the onset ! ' 
 
 " This was my fault. Of my promise was I forgetful. 
 An evil day awaiteth me. 
 
 " Ever since, with throbbing heart, have I peered intp 
 the future ; and that day and that hour is at hand : 
 
 " Unto Sayyid 'Umar's household send thou thej . 
 greeting — a truce now to all delay 1 " 
 
( 13Q ) 
 
 Then outspake SAhft SaiAr ; " Mamal, be thou of good 
 cheer. In a lucky hour hast thou spoken. 
 
 " Many a day have anxious thoughts beset me (for 
 the hour) when the Warrior shall don the wedding 
 chaplet." 
 
 BALLADE IL 
 30. Unto SahA Saiar quoth mother Mimal ; " Give ear 
 
 unto my words. 
 " To Sayyid 'Umar's household send thy greeting. 
 
 Even now make ready for the wedding." 
 Unto Sah<l Saiar quoth mother Mamal ; " Call in a 
 
 Brahman speedily." 
 So he sent forth a messenger, and called in a Brahman, 
 
 unto whom, as he took his seat, he gave a charger 
 
 of rice to hold, saying : 
 
 " Unfold thy scroll and con it, good Brahman, 
 withal looking to the ways of the Holy Writ." 
 
 Then 'gan the shrewd Brahman to count and reckon, 
 and he tested the months. 
 
 " In the month of June," he spake, " the day had 
 fallen on the Sabbath. Make ready thy procession. 
 Send forth (unto the bride's father) nuptial garments 
 and sweetmeats. 
 
 " These tidings of gladness do thou announce in the house 
 of Sayyid 'Umar and claim thy signet and kerchief." 
 
 Yet in the oracle did this mystic word appear ; and 
 soon was the presage to be fulfilled : 
 
 " On the day, whereon the Warrior shall come to his 
 wedding, there shall befal an affray : for a mighty 
 host shall arise, darksome as a storm-cloud. 
 
 40 " Mighty men of valour shall bear wounds, and shall 
 bid flow the hearts' blood of their foemen. 
 
( i3t ) 
 
 ' The Warrior shall bare his brand ; and many a man 
 shall fall a corse ; and as they fall, light shall break 
 through the ranks of battle." 
 
 In the oracle did this mystic word appear, and soon 
 was the presage to be fulfilled. 
 
 Whatsoever doth the Holy Writ declare, is such that 
 upon its pure nature there is not a blot. 
 
 Whatsoever the Disposer hath inscribed, shall not 
 budge by the span of a fly : and never shall the 
 words of the Writ be empty. 
 
 BALLADE JII. 
 All thoughts of care did MSmal coax out of her heart. 
 
 She 'gan fulfil each rite and usage, and anointed, her 
 
 son with turmeric. 
 Then spake mother M^mal ; " Bestir yourselves I 
 
 whatsoever is ordained, let it come to pass. 
 
 " Let me but look upon the meeting of the Saint with 
 his bride, whether the Almighty shall preserve or 
 destroy him ! " 
 
 Then each time that she gazed upon the Saint, M4mal 
 would laugh and weep : 
 
 50. And then again she would take heart and would 
 wash her face in water. 
 
 Her top-knot she unloosed, and comforted her soul, 
 saying ; " Every diamond and pearl that I strung 
 in these my locks, 
 
 " All will I scatter forth in the name of the Warrior, 
 and on a fallow field will I have them sown. 
 
 " And then, when a harvest shall spring up of wealth 
 and splendour, the Warrior shall rejoice, and shall 
 follow whithersoever my hope guideth." 
 
( 132 ) 
 
 The fairest blossoms of the wood-apple picked the 
 gardener's wife, and with rose-water she moistened 
 them. 
 
 And she set them before the Warrior, and the Warrior 
 rejoiced in the blossom of the wood-apple. 
 
 A throng of damsels waved a fan above him, and the 
 Warrior sank into a peaceful slumber : 
 
 While in the house of Sayyid 'Umar sat Queen Zuhri, 
 watching for the Warrior : 
 
 BALLADE IV. 
 
 Many a summons to the feast did Mimal write and 
 send. The tidings spread throughout the realm. 
 
 The noise of pomp rang through M^mal's marriage 
 pavilion, and collected all her clan and brother- 
 hood. 
 
 60. The noise of pomp rang through Mimal's marriage 
 pavilion, and all the guests arrived. 
 
 Each one did SahCl Sil4r welcome, as he ran for- 
 ward to seat them in his assembly. 
 
 Then arose songs, and every instrument sounded ; 
 
 and the women of the household sang wedding 
 
 strains. 
 Food prepared Sayyid S4lir, and everyone he 
 
 feasted. 
 In that hour the Saint drew nigh ; then M&mal 
 
 bade them mix sherbet. 
 
 Unhanselled ewers did the damsels fill, and joyfully 
 brought they water. 
 
 Whatsoever gift craved fee-claimants and friars 
 and beggars, that did they obtain. 
 
( 133 ) 
 
 A barber stood up and bathed Saint Bahlim as he 
 sat on a settle of sandal-wood. 
 
 The wedding chaplet and the veil of flowers (did 
 the barber) bind ; and he crimped the apparel 
 ere he donned it on him. 
 
 Again and again, in honour of the bridegroom, did 
 MAmal suffer the throng to scramble for largess. 
 
 BALLADE V. 
 
 70. Whensoever M^mal suffered the throng to scramble 
 for largess, joyfully she spake : 
 
 " To-day my Warrior is a bridegroom ; and this is 
 all I ever prayed." 
 
 When ready stood the procession at the portals 
 Lilli lifted up her voice and neighed, 
 
 Out rang the seven instruments At that mo- 
 ment jasfi appeared. 
 
 Again and again by name she called Saint Bahlim 
 and raised the cry for justice. 
 
 As the Warrior sat in the marriage pavilion, J^sfl 
 approached him (saying) ; 
 
 " First hear my prayer, Saint Bahlim, then hie 
 thee to thy nuptials, 
 
 " King Sohaldal, in pride and insolence, hath car- 
 ried off thy kine. 
 
 " Had not the herdsmen raised the cry of the 
 Warrior to the rescue ! there had been no foray, 
 
 " But slaughtered fell all the herdsmen, bearing 
 wounds and bathed in gore." 
 
 80. Hearing Jisft's story, in anger the Warrior uprose. 
 
C 134 ) 
 
 At her side he stood prepared ; he girded on his 
 glaive and his poignard and his lance, and all 
 his weapons. 
 
 Hearing these tidings, M^mal approached the Mas- 
 ter, saying : 
 
 " Do thou not hie thee to the fray, my child ! 'twas 
 but by the great favour of heaven that thou wast 
 granted to me." 
 
 " What shall I say ? " (replied the Warrior), " never 
 a word wouldst thou understand. Sohaldal hath 
 provoked a fray. , 
 
 •' Give me to toil for faith and truth ! hinder me not, 
 mother MSmal." 
 
 BALLADE VL 
 
 Quoth mother M&mal ; " Hie thee not to the fray, 
 my son, thy wedding is appointed. 
 
 " Of thee, my Warrior, do I make a bridegroom ; 
 and in the mansion of Sayyid 'Umar is the bride 
 decked in wondrous wise. 
 
 " Beneath the wedding pavilion do thou sit, Saint 
 Bahlim ; the silken thread is tied, 
 
 " Have kine been stolen ? Well, let them go ! in thy 
 house how many kine ? 
 
 90. •' Of milk and rice will I dress thee a dish, wherein 
 butter and sugar are mingled. 
 
 " Do thou eat and sleep in peaceful slumber. This 
 and no more is my prayer." 
 
 The Master comforted MAmal, and spake unto her 
 the whole matter, saying : 
 
 «' King Sohaldal, in his pride and his arrogance, is 
 drunk with vanity. 
 
( I3S ) 
 
 " Done is the bloody sacrifice ; but 'tis as though a 
 sling-stone or a glaive had smitten me. 
 
 "jasd stands imploring me. Look ! yonder is she 
 
 lamenting. 
 •' When the cry of rescue the cow ! is raised, how 
 
 shall I refuse to answer it ? What then should I 
 
 care for my life ? 
 
 " Wait but an hour, mother M^mal ! after all, every 
 man must die : 
 
 "Whoso Cometh, none abideth; of all. Lord, thou 
 art the Master." 
 
 BALLADE VII. 
 
 With many a tear M^mal beat her brow, and 
 through her heart raged fire : 
 
 I oo. "My Warrior," she cried, "hath hied him to the 
 
 fray, and my fortune is shattered." 
 For a space the Master closed his eyes, and he saw 
 
 a vision, and straightway started wide-awake ; 
 For in his dream he divined all the, secret of the 
 
 cry to the rescue of the cow. Then he awoke. 
 The wedding chaplet and the veil of flowers he 
 
 tore, and tied the plait of his top-knot; and mount- 
 ing upon Lilli's back, Bahllm took leave of his 
 
 mother, saying : 
 " Bid me be worthy the milk I cost thee, mother. 
 
 Unloose the thread of my nuptial bracelet and 
 
 take it away." 
 " To God have I commended thee, my son " (quoth 
 
 Mamal), " now shalt thou hie thee to the fray." 
 Seventy chiefs mounted upon their chargers, and 
 
 Birahna attended them. 
 
( 136 > 
 
 Gallant, I trow, was the host that advanced, and 
 proud the strains that sounded. 
 
 From Lilli's back cried Saint Bahltm ; " Tarry, sir 
 King! 
 
 " I would draw my sword, and destroy thee, and 
 the faith of the Prophet shall be advanced. 
 
 I lo. " Till now each prince that came in turn, hath fled 
 from King Sohaldal." 
 
 BALLADE VIII. 
 
 In the very ranks of the fray the Saint pitched his 
 pavilion, — at earliest daybreak he encompassed 
 Sohal. 
 
 His hosts, too, gathered ; and his princes rallied, and 
 armies of Sohal filled the plain. 
 
 The Master Sayyid SaUr mounted all his hench- 
 men, and, vaulting into the saddle, charged to 
 the onset. 
 
 They saw the field, and shafts 'gan loose and both 
 armies closed. 
 
 Then Zuhri, daughter of the Sayyid, foreseeing 
 the future, 'gan lament : 
 
 As her tears fell, all the women of the homestead 
 comforted ZuhrA : 
 
 Hearing these tidings came Sayyid 'Umar and 
 began to solace her, saying : 
 
 " What sorrow and anguish hath befallen thee, tell 
 
 me, my sweet one ! " 
 " With King Sohaldal," sobbed ZuhrA, " a fray 
 
 hath befallen, and dagger and poignard glitter to 
 
 the stroke. 
 
( 137 ) 
 
 1 26. " Then will rhy fortune return, when once again I 
 shall see my Bahlim ; then again will I offer thee 
 a song of thanksgiving. 
 "Why dost thou appoint my wedding, 'Umar ? 
 A barren stock was I, and a barren stock I 
 remain." 
 
 BALLADE IX. 
 
 Then Sayyid SalSr, mounted upon Lilli, ready for 
 the fray, 
 
 Hither and thither speeding, see ! ever flasheth his 
 brand. 
 
 In the ranks of the battle he entered as raged the 
 tussle : all were bewildered as they gazed. 
 
 Whole hosts fell back disordered, and elephants 
 fared no better than horses. 
 
 Shaft and musquet-ball showered, as a thunder- 
 cloud raineth. 
 
 Daggers and poignards, glaives and brands glit- 
 tered, and sling-stones showered. 
 
 As mounted upon Lilli, he brandished his blade, 
 with the bridegroom fought seventy chieftains ; 
 and so the fray opened, while the Saint terrified 
 every heart. 
 
 Girt with a mighty brand, as Palih^r entered the 
 fray, 
 
 130. At one onset he overthrew his thousands, and the 
 foemen's host was terrified. 
 
 With his friar's chain in his hand, battled Birahna 
 and none confronted him. 
 
 They turned and fled beyond his reach, and none 
 fcraved even a wound : 
 
( 138 ) 
 
 One blow from Birahni's chain ! then fell Sohaldal, 
 
 erewhile drunk with pride. 
 When won the triumph, the clarions sounded, and 
 
 then was the bridegroom glad of heart. 
 
 Every cow, that Sohal's henchmen had plundered, 
 did the Master lead homewards. 
 
 When the sun 'gan glare — for it was the month of 
 June— the Warrior flushed and sweat 'gan trickle, 
 and beneath a tree he sought shade. 
 
 In his fate thus was it written ; " When a shaft 
 from the unseen shall strike the Saint, then shall 
 the bridegroom pass away like- a flower." 
 
 So Saint Bahlim fell martyred. Father Birahnft 
 took him to his bosom and wept and sorrowed. 
 
 When Zuhra heard these tidings, she 'gan beat her 
 brow and M4mal wept day and night. 
 
 140. In Bahraich he laid him down to rest, where his 
 tomb the pilgrims visit. 
 
 The hope and desire of all he 'gan fulfil -Say, 
 
 why should his worshipper be fearful ? 
 
 The blind gaineth eyes ; the leper gaineth limbs ; 
 and barren women suckle babes at their breasts. 
 
 ' Full garners and wealth and fortune granteth Saint 
 Bahlim, enjoy thyself while life remaineth. 
 
 Inscription : 
 
 My guide Shah Muhammad, of the lion mien, un- 
 folded the cunning of this strain, 
 
 If Khflshihai Bafis sing it, all my woe and sorrow 
 ceaseth : 
 
 If once more I could gaze upon the shrine, then 
 were all my desires fulfilled, 
 
 147. With the bumble-bee above its dome, quivering — 
 quivering— quivering ! 
 
( 139 ) 
 
 ALLAHABAD :— PRINTED AT THS PIONEER PRESS. 
 
H) fD Q 
 
 n 
 
 o 
 
 D 
 
 r c 
 
 a 
 
 
 
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Patron Name: SIJAPATI, MEGAN ADAMSON 
 (Graduate) 
 
 Owned By: OCLC - Direct Request 
 Address: Interlibrary LendingCoraell 
 
 UniversityOlin Librarylthaca, NY 
 14853-5301 
 Date Received: 16-FEB-2005 
 Shipping Notes: 
 
 Format: Printed 
 
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