हम्मीर महाकाव्यम् (रणथम्भौर चौहान वीरगाथा एवं इतिहास)

17 found concealed under bushels of poetical chaff. It is therefore useless to give a further analysis of this part of the poem. I begin with Somes'vara, the father of Prithvî Râja. After the death of Gangadeva, who was brave like Bhîshma of old, Somes'vara became king. He was married to Karpûrî Dêvî, who gave birth to a son as the east gives birth to the cold rayed beautiful disk of the moon. This son was named Prithvîrâja by the king his father. Day by day the child throve, and grew up a strong and healthy boy. After he had acquired proficiency in letters and arms, Somes'vara installed him on the gadi, and himself retiring into the woods died in the practice of the yoga. As the eastern mountain shines beautiful by the rays that it receives from the author of day, so did Prith- vîrâja shine in the royal insignia obtained from his father. While Prithvîrâja was ruling over his subjects with justice, and keeping his enemies in terror, Shahâbu-d-dîn was vigorously trying to subjugate the earth. The kings of the West, suffering greatly at his hands, chose Śrî Chandrarâja, son of Govin- darâja, as their spokesman, and in a body came to Prithvî- râja. After the customary presents had been offered, the suppliant kings seated themselves in the presence of Prithvîrâja, who, seeing the settled gloom of their countenances, asked the reason of their sorrow. Chandrarâja replied to him that a Muhammad- an named Shahabu'd dîn had arisen for the destruction of kings, and that he had pillaged and burnt most of their cities, defiled their women, and reduced them altogether to a miserable plight. “Sire,” said he, “there is scarcely a mountain-pent valley in the country but is filled to suffocation with Râjputs who have fled thither for protection from his tyranny. A Râjput has but to appear before him in arms, when at once he is transferred to Yama’s gloomy realm. Methinks Shahâbu'd dîn is Para- śurâma come down to this earth again for the extirpation of the warrior caste. The people are so panic-stricken that they abstain C