महाराणा सांगा: द हिन्दूपत (हरविलास सारदा - मेवाड़ साम्राज्य एवं खानवा महायुद्ध इतिहास)

Maharana Sāngā. Owing to some disagreement between the husband and the wife, Mandlik began to illtreat his Queen. Prithviraj heard of this, and with a chosen band of his veterans started to punish King Mandlik. Traversing the long distance by rapid marches, Prithviraj surprised Mandlik in his palace. In his helplessness, he appealed to Prithviraj's clemency. Prith- viraj spared his life, but as a mark of punishment cut a little piece off his right ear and returned with his aunt Ramā Bai, to to pare the nails of her daughter-in-law, the Padmini. Struck by her surpassing beauty, he repaired to Mandlik and spoke to him about her. Mandlik resolved to go and see her. His queen, Ramā Bai, expostulated with him and tried her best to dissuade him. Mandlik persisted in his nefarious design and went to the village where Nagdevi lived. Nagdevi supplied the entire following of the Raja with provisions from a small kotri (cell) of hers. Surprised at this supernatural feat, the king's attendants told him that she was a goddess and nothing should be done to displease her. The king, mad with desire, did not listen to them. The bar tree under which he sat began to shoot jets of blood, but the king did not take the warning. He asked Nagdevi to show him the Padmini. The Devi brought her out properly decked, but her feet did not touch the ground. Mandlik thrust forward his hand to catch hold of her. She, however, assumed the form of a goddess and pro- nounced a curse upon him, that he would lose his fortress, 32