69.] The Nineteenth Booh of the Gestes of Prithirdj. 149 



Body, soul and thought fixed on the Chahuwan, 

 She remained, blushing red. 



19. All her moon-like appearance passed away, ■ 

 Her end approached ; 



Mother and father were anxious, 

 Seeking for the maiden a husband. 

 Poem. 



20. Seeking for the maiden a husband, 

 They made enquiry on all sides ; 



They got Brahmins and Gurus, speaking, 

 Telling, and explaining that matter, 

 " A man, a king, a lord of men, 

 With a large fort, inaccessible, immense, 

 Accomplished, of pure race, 

 Give to the princess, king ! 

 Then send a Brahmin to make the betrothal, 

 Virtuous, praiseworthy, as thyself ; 

 [Let there be] joy and gladness in Samud Sikhar, 

 Singing of songs, flags many." 

 Couplets. 



21. To the North, in the Sawalikh hills 

 In the fort of Kamaun, hard of access 

 Rules a king, like the jewel in the lotus, 

 With horses, elephants, wealth endless. 



22. The Brahman prepared the cocoanut fruit 



Having filled the chauk with pearls and (other) jewels, 

 That the hero should pledge himself to the maiden 

 With great joy making the alliance. 

 Bhujangi metre. 



23. Smiling the king took the betrothal offering, 

 For joy from door to door the drums were beat ; 

 The lords of forts all speaking, agreed, 



All the kings of that family arrived. 

 Came ten thousand horsemen renowned, 

 Thirty-three thousand foot soldiers filling the place, 

 Drunk with the moisture (from their temples) five hundred 

 elephants 



