1884.] 
145 
G. A. Grierson —The Song of Bijai Mai. 
tliy horse and ride away. These friends and companions (790) will 
make yon forget your vow. Prince, look not behind or before.’ When 
the Prince heard this (he leaped upon his horse), and when Tilki heard 
it, she seized the horse’s bridle, saying, (795) ‘My Lord, hear my little 
word. Twelve years have passed, and I have thought of the vermilion 
of my forehead as but a dream.* To-day it has come back to me. 
O husband stay here but one night. (800) In my body a fire is rising, O 
husband, to-day put that fire out.’ Up rose Prince Bijai and said, ‘ Hear 
me, 0 slender wife. How can I put that fire out ? (805) I have placed 
the goddess Durga round my neck, and, if I do as you desire, all the gods 
will be displeased with me. I would be killed in the open battle-field.’ 
When Tilki heard these words, she began to weep bitterly. (810) ‘ Hus¬ 
band, from to-day thou hast deserted me.’ Said the Prince, ‘Wife, 
be patient in your heart. This very day will I conquer in the fight, 
and come to your house.’ When she heard this she said (815) ‘ Hus¬ 
band, I will let go the horse’s bridle if to-day you will show me some of 
your skill,’ but the prince touched the horse’s flanks with his heel, and 
Hichchhal flew into the air. 
The friends and companions returned (820) to the female apart¬ 
ments, to where was queen Maina, and her eye fell upon them. ‘ Ye 
gods,’ said the queen ‘ Hear me. Princess Tilki. (825) I gave you 
leave for two half hours, where have you passed the whole night, and 
why is your face sad ?’ ‘0 mother, the tank was very exquisite, and I 
went round and round it to look at it. (830) ’Twas there that I passed 
the whole night. The west wind blew hard, and that is why my face 
is sad.’ When the mother had heard this, they all went away to their 
own apartments. 
(835) In the meanwhile, the goddess Durga said, ‘ Prince, hear my 
words. How is your lucky time. Your first fight will be with Manik 
Chand, and your second with Bawan Suba’. (840) So he went to the 
fortress of Jirhul, where flows the river Jhirjhir. He made his horse 
to leap into it, and behold his sword fell into the river. Prince Bijai 
began to lament, (845), ‘ Alas, I listened to no advice, but came to the 
prison of my own accord. My sword has fallen into the Jhirjhir, how 
now will I be able to show my bravery ?’ Lo, up rose the colt Hich¬ 
chhal and said (850) ‘ Prince, you were born from a Chhattri’s womb. 
If you are distressed at so little as this, when the time for fighting with 
weapons comes, how will you bear it ? Seven rivers of blood will 
issue forth. (855) Prince, harden now your heart.’ Then said the colt 
‘ Prince, hold the bridle tightly, and I will dive into the river Jhirjhir, 
and bring out the sword in my teeth,’ (860) and, behold, Hichchhal 
* Vermiliou is worn only by married women. 
