200 B. Bandyopadhyaya — Hamir 'Rasa, [No. 3, 



I will never set aside my resolution. How can I deliver into your hands 

 the man whom I have promised safe-keeping ?" (To the herald.) " Go to the 

 emperor and say to him, that if it he possible for the sun to rise in the West 

 and the waters of the Ganges to flow from her mouth to the source, then 

 Avill it be possible for Hamir to violate what he has deliberately resolved 

 upon. I rule over the territory given us by the sage Padam. When the 

 time appointed for the destruction of my fort will arrive, none shall be able 

 to avert its fate. What is not fated to be, will never come to pass ; while 

 what is fated to be, must happen. Wealth and death are in the hands of 

 God, then why fear men ? I have given my word to the Sheik, and how can 

 I forsake him ? To be faithless to a refugee goes hard against the virtues of 

 the Kshatriyas. I will never join my hands and bow down before Ala- 

 uddin. If he fall upon me, I will fight ; I care neither for my life nor 

 kingdom." Hamir added the following words to his letter: " Far from me 

 be the thought of sending you Muhammad Shah, I will never send you 

 even his picture. These are my true words, true in every respect." 



The emperor, on reading the reply of Hamir, became very angry ; but, 

 at the request of Mihram Khan, the prime-minister, a third firman was, in 

 consideration of his religion, sent to Hamir. 



'Firman. — " Thousands and tens of thousands of men like you are lick- 

 ing the dust of my feet ; many brave heroes, such as you, have I have brought 

 tinder subjugation. Rule in safety over the territory of Ranthambor. Why 

 stake life and kingdom for the sake of a villain ? Come with him and meet 

 with me. You are my servant, and so shall you ever remain although you 

 fall not at my feet. If you continue to persist in your unwise resolution, 

 I, emperor Ala-uddin Khilji, do promise to burn you and your house to 

 dust. Do not be obstinate, Hamir. Why try to wake the sleeping Gan- 

 ges — disturb the peaceable state of things ? My anger is like a red flame 

 of fire which burns mountains and forests. The Rajas of the four quarters 

 of India pay me tribute. Who dares oppose me ? Can a tank be equal to a 

 river ? No it never can." 



Hamir* s reply. — " Logs of wood are burnt to ashes by fire, but water 

 can put it out, however strong it may be. Listen, emperor Ala-uddin, all 

 must live their time. Who can kill a man when he is not fated to die ? 

 If I send the Sheik to you, the sun, a witness of my promise, will be 

 ashamed of my cowardice and villainy. I, Rao Hamir Chohan of Rantham- 

 bor, do hereby declare that I will never violate my promise. Come, lose no 

 time, march and fall upon me." 



Then went the imperial herald dejected to Dehli. He said, " Mighty 

 monarch, Hamir of the fort of Ranthambor does not care at all for your 

 power. His cavalry, infantry and heroes are numerous. Besides, firmness 



