228 B. Bandyopidhyaya—Hamir Rasd, [No. 3, 
great Rao, have fought for twelve years and many times driven the emperor 
from the wall. Who has put such a vile idea in your head ? What accursed 
devil has got possession of you that you are uttering such base words? 
Understand, my lord, that the greatest glory of man lies in speaking 
truth and standing by it at any cost. It matters not whether his body 
be severed to pieces, wealth lost and brothers, sons and wife sacrificed. 
Know that wealth and kingdom are for a few days only, while glory lasts 
for ever. Fight manfully to the last and keep the glory of your word 
intact. See, Dagaratha was bound by a promise which he had given to 
his bewitching Kaikayi, and so he was obliged to banish his dearest Rama, 
whose separation broke his heart and he sank and at last succumbed. What 
is fated to be must happen, and you can never avert it. Consider, 
Maha Rio, Muhammad Shah cannot come twice to our door, neither 
can Ala-uddin twice fall on the fort. If a man fear death, is he worthy 
to be called a Rajput? If you break through your resolution, your father- 
land Ajmir, the seat of your heroic ancestors, will be ashamed of you. 
Sacrifice your throne, life and fort, but never give our refugee back.” 
“See, Réo where is the pious Jagdev Puafir, who cut off his own head 
and offered it to his tutelary goddess? Where are the learned Vikram and 
Bhoj, who relieved the distress of the poor? Where is the generous Karan 
who used to give in charity every morning, on rising from his bed, one bhar 
(weight) and a quarter of gold? Where are all these monarchs? Alas! 
they are all gone, all swept away by the grim-looking sweeper, death, 
None can escape from his all-grasping hand, neither the holy sages, nor the 
emperors, nay not even the gods. There have been many Chakravarti 
(paramount) rajés on the surface of the earth, whose sway extended to the 
shores of oceans, but where are they? All lost in the deep abyss of time. 
Wealth, youth and the condition of man do not ever remain the same. 
The moon even is subject to change. She wanes to nothingness and again 
waxes to her fulness.” 
“ You cannot leave the Sheikh, because you have promised him safety. 
Abide by your word and resolution and never move from it and be cowed 
by adverse circumstances. ‘The final massacre, as foretold by Siva, is at 
hand. Fight, fight with the Muhammadan odds, holding your sword with a 
more determined hand. Be regardless of your life and interests. Birth, 
death and union come from God. None born in this world can be immor- 
tal. That which grows must perish, is a universal law of nature which 
no power can annul. Nothing is stable, neither man nor tree, neither 
mountain nor village. You have reigned over the territory of Ranthambor 
as long as your virtues enabled you todo so, Where is Réo Jait, your 
father, who laid the foundation of the fort ? Where is your grandfather 
