242 B. Bandyopadhyaya — Hamir Rasa, [No. 3, 



another battle. Cannon and other fire-arms were no longer made use of, 

 and swords only were taken in hand. 



Rao Hamir pulled the string of his bow and away flew shafts of arrows 

 whizzing through the air. It seemed as if the mighty Arjun was fighting 

 again on the field of Kurukshetra. Many elephants were pierced. Down 

 they fell and rolled, roaring with agony. The mails of the horses were 

 run through, and the fire-headed arrows flew away with violence from the 

 bodies of many noble steeds, carrying their lives with them. They rained 

 like the showers of the rainy season. The Mirs and Rawats met. The 

 latter rushed out from their ranks. Clad in clothes dyed with saffron, with 

 the marriage-crowns fastened to their heads, many fierce warriors ran for- 

 ward with thrilling shouts. The war-minstrels began to sing their praises, 

 as they darted flashing like meteors. The hair of their erect whiskers 

 touched their eyes, and all their hairs were erect, being inflamed with rage, 

 energy and pride. 



A thick array of elephants was set in front of the imperial force. The 

 Rajput heroes made at them with sword in hand and fire in their hearts. 

 Hamir roared, standing on the field. The earth and the heavens shook with 

 the peals of the martial music. Banners streamed. Some elephants were 

 hurled in the air, others were struck dead. Some were torn into two, the 

 trunks of others were cut off so swiftly, as if they were so many plantain trees. 

 The tusks of some were broken, and the poor elephants instantly fled, roar- 

 ing and writhing in pain. Others were caught by the tails and tusks and 

 thrown suddenly on the ground. Heaps upon heaps of carcases were scat- 

 tered on the field, and blood began to flow from wounds in torrents, as jets 

 of water flow from a fountain. Many good horses rolled hither and thither, 

 with their legs and bodies cut in pieces. Again the swords flashed. 

 Heroes fought with heroes, while cowards fled away. The heads of some 

 dropped, the legs of others, the arms of some and the breasts of others. 

 Down came many warriors with a sound like the crash of falling timbers. 

 The reeking swords fell on the heads of some, and the heads fell down and 

 uttered forth a horrible scream, while their bodies began to dance on the field. 

 Arrows whizzed, swords flashed, they sounded as the axe of the wood-cut- 

 ter when at work in a jungle. The sharp lances went through many 

 bodies as enraged serpents go to their dens. Daggers stabbed many, knives 

 were run through, whose points looked on the other side of the body like 

 tails of the cobra de capello. The bisdn was driven with force, and 

 breasts were rent into two. 



The athletes commenced wrestling. Some were hurled in the air. The 

 hands of others were sprained and plucked out. Some lost their heads, and 

 others their legs. The earth was unable to drink the blood of which a river 



