212 B. Bandyopadhyaya — Hamir Bdsd, [No. 3, 



emperor of Balkh, while that on the side of the Chohan was 10,000 only. 

 The goddess Kalika danced and laughed, and her attendant she-devils 

 feasted on the flesh and blood of the slain. All who fell on the field were 

 translated to heaven. 



When the troops fled away from the field, when " Fly away for life" 

 was the only expression heard, the emperor burst with anger. He said 

 " Fy ! Fy ! cowards, why do you leave the field ? Is it for this act of 

 shame that I allowed you the enjoyment of many comforts ? Is it for 

 this that you have eaten my salt ? Now the love of life overcomes faith- 

 fulness. Come, come along to me, I shall cut you to pieces with my own 

 hand." The scattered soldiers became united, and again they rushed to 

 the field. Their shouts were heard to a great distance. Badat Khan, the 

 principal Mir of Ghazni, bowed down to Ala-uddin. He said, " See my 

 dexterity and military talents, Royal Master, see how I fight and kill the 

 hostile troops one and all." 



Badat came to the field with great fury ; so great were his bravery and 

 ferocity that it seemed as if the fire of death and destruction shone forth 

 from every pore of his body. The air resounded with the high peal of 

 drums. Colours were unfurled. Clad in mail and armed with all the 

 weapons of attack and defence, the Muhammadan Mir thought himself 

 invulnerable. The enraged emperor gave orders, and a second battle was 

 fought. Again the martial music of sdndhis (pipes), trumpets and drums was 

 sounded ; shouts and cheers were heard from all sides. Cannons roared, and 

 thereby the earth shook, the waters of tanks and wells became dry, and 

 women miscarried. Arrows flew fast in large numbers. Darkness spread 

 over the field, so that the hands of the archers could neither be seen nor dis- 

 tinguished. Badat Khan and Bandhir met. They seemed as if two mighty 

 Budras came face to face. The Muhammadan was at the head of 20,000 

 soldiers who surrounded the Bajput. The troops of the latter rode for- 

 ward. Swords clashed, and the Chohan warriors, by a masterly feat of 

 arms, failed not in cutting the bodies of their adversaries in ten thousand 

 pieces. There was a play of sharp spears. The heroic Bandhir commenced 

 a wholesale massacre, and almost all the Muhammadans were put to the sword. 

 With a wild hurrah, out rushed Badat Khan and fell on the great Chohan. 

 He raised a guraz (a club with a ball of steel at one end) on the head of his 

 enemy, who shifting wisely warded off the blow by his shield. Then Bandhir, 

 furious with rage, struck Badat Khan dead by one stroke of his sword. 

 The head dropped down, but behold ! the body rose and rushed at the Bao, 

 who immediately divided it into two equal parts. 



The emperor became greatly sorry at the fall of Badat Khan and that 

 of his 20,000 men. Mihram Khan having joined his hands, thus spoke: 



