200 B. Bandyopidhyaya—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 be possible for the sun to rise in the West 
and the waters of the Ganges to flow from her mouth to the source, then 
will 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 Jirman 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 
under subjugation. Bile 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 killa 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.” c 
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 
