THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
276
destroying the country of the Chālukya, on roll ed the army, taking many, Bhumias with them, destroying the lands of those who opposed them. Throwing forward a guard of a thousand" ele phants in rut, when the light halfof Māgh arriv ed, he made his camp at ten kos distance. Cities, towns, and villages, all that came in their way, they plundered. Băluk heard the news. Angrily at once he started up, as when flame starts up in a forest, without smoke. Bāluk Rao, the Chalukya war rior, calling for water, laved his body; he drank a handful (anjali) of water which had washed the feet of Vishnu. Hari he placed on his throat. “To-day I go forth to conquer, or to meet death. If I fly, may dishonour fall on my race.
In all this land is there no warrior (Kshatri), that this man has traversed it without being debarred by weapons?”
Arming his horses with plates of steel, he placed armour on his elephant. The warriors
girt on their armour and weapons (silaha). When the king mounted his horse he sent word: —“‘Bāluk Rao has come without fear.” O
Srikant Bhāt go to the Chahuvān and thus
ſSept. 6, 1872.
billows of the ocean bending their crests towards each other. The Chahuvân made a phalanx (chakrávyuh): Băluk Rao, like Abhimanyu,f may break it or remain in the middle.
What
destiny has determined will come to pass. In the morning the two armies met as waves of the ocean. Elephants stood firm ; the war riors struck at their trunks; arrows flew darken ing the light of the sun. Good warriors with
spear on shoulder set their horses at speed; with out fear, patting their horses as they charged'; each was like a drop of water in the ocean. Wounds were apparent on men's bodies. The Chāluk’s army gave back; then Băluk Rao assist
ed them. They cried “brother, brother, strike, strike!” Both armies fight and wound each other. Băluk shook the Chakravyuh. The Parihar and Gahilot turned their backs ; the Gahilot fled in the direction of the Tuar; the Chakrác, uh was
broken in one place ºf then the other warriors acted nobly and like heroes ; they closed up like lions. Corpses fell to the earth; the warriors
fought locked in each other's embrace; they displayed such strength as surpasses description. At that time the Kandhār and Baloch advanced
against Băluk boldly, nothing regarding.
declare.”
Srikant Bhāt went to the enemy; he met Bisal Deva Chahuvān; raising his hands, he gave him the salutation ; he told him the message of Băluk Rao. “Your business lies with kings, what have you to do with subjects, you have done ill in
that you have injured the subjects. No Hindu monarch would do so. Ceasing to molest the peasants, now return to your home; to Ajmer depart and there reign. Bāluk Rao has said I
Ele
Phants, roar; in the field of battle are strewn heads and trunks. The warriors' surcoats (brigo)
were stained red, as if they played together at the Holi: they were bathed in gore. The ele
Phants, streaming with blood, shewed brilliantly as the palāsaš flowering in the spring (basant) season. Bāluk, and Bisal the king perceived each other. It was as if the moon grew dim from being opposed to the sun.
The Chāluk
am the Brahma Rai, inured to war, to fly were
urged on his horse, the Chahuvân his elephant; the two rājas fought a terrible fight urging on
great grief to me, but the day of my death is a day of holiday. Of noble race are the chiefs that
horse and elephant, they crossed weapons with
are around me. I have never had any quarrel
Băluk urged on his steed. “Hear, king,” said the Chāluk, patting his horse, “it is night, let
with you ; knowing this, turn back then, and abandon war.
I and thou have to meet to
gether in the field to-day. Who shall remain in the field, who shall fly.” When the Chauhān
received this message, he at once gave orders to sound the kettledrum. Armour they placed on horses and on elephants; the warriors clad them selves in their armour; the two armies met shield
to shield in their ranks ; they seemed like two ‘My copy reads {{{{{ {ET probably agú Qāī
i.e.
1,000—J. B.
t.The chakravyuh is a phalanx of
each other, when to the teeth of the elephant
us break off the fight, and in the morning again resume it.”
They returned each to his own
tent, and bound up the wounds of all who were wounded.
All the ministers of the Chāluk came toge ther; they forged a false paper. Having made
it, they brought it to the king :-e Do you go home; the Chāluk has fled, we, all his ministers, finds difficulty in delivery.—Forbes, Ras wºnnote.
Mala,
p.97,
peculiar form de
scribed in the Mahābhārata as having been formed by the Kaurava army. , Abhimanyu, the son of Arjuna, broke
through six ranks of it, and was slain in front of the
- Yºuth. The figure is also used as a charm when a
f i. e. by the Gahilots running away and leaving their which cowardice place empty. For the curious legend is sºld to be an inherent vice of the Gabilots, see my Eun. of Elliot's Races of N. W. P. Vol.I. p. 90.—J. B.
iy
§ The ºutea frondosa, which bears scarlet blossoms.
