पृष्ठम्:हम्मीरमहाकाव्यम्.pdf/२८

विकिस्रोतः तः
(पृष्ठम्:Hammira-mahakavya.pdf/२८ इत्यस्मात् पुनर्निर्दिष्टम्)
पुटमेतत् सुपुष्टितम्

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upon the invaders at a place on the Varnanasi, and gained a decisive advantage over the enemy, great numbers of whom were killed. Contenting himself with the advantage thus gained, Bhîmasingh began to retrace his steps towards Ranathambher, Ulugh Khān secretly following him with the main body of his army. Now it so happened that the soldiers of Bhimasingh, who had obtained immense booty, were anxious to carry it home safely, and, in their anxiety to do this, they out stripped their chief, who had around him only a small band of his personal followers. When Bhimasingh had thus gained the middle of the Hindavát pass, in the pride of victory he ordered the kettle drums and other musical instruments he had captured from the enemy to be vigorously sounded. This act had an unforeseen and disastrous consequence. Ulugh Khán had ordered his army to follow Bhima singh in small detachments, and had commanded them to fall on him wherever he should sound his martial instruments, which they were to understand as the signal, of some great advantage gained over the enemy. When the detached parties, therefore, of the Muhammadans heard the sound of the nagáras, they poured into the pass from all sides, and Ulugh Khān also coming up began to fight with Bhima- singh. The Hindu general for a time nobly sustained the unequal combat, but was at last wounded and killed. After gaining this signal advantage over the enemy, Ulugh Khán. returned to Delhi. Hammira, after the completion of the sacrifice, learnt the details of the battle and of the death of his general Bhima singh. He up braided Dharama singh for deserting Bhima singh and called him blind, as he could not see the Ulugh Khān was on the track of the army. He also called him impotent as he did not rush to the rescue of Bhima singh. Not content with thus upbraiding Dharma singh, the king ordered the offending general to be blinded and castrated.