17
found concealed under bushels of poetical chaff. It is therefore useless to give a further analysis of this part of the poem. I begin with Somesvara, tho father of Prithvi Rája.
After the death of Gangadeva, who was brave like Bhishma of old, Somesvara became king. He was married to Karpura Devi, who gave birth to a son as the east gives birth to the cold-rayed beautiful disk of the moon. This son was named Prithviraja by the king his father. Day by day the child throve, and grew up A strong and healthy boy. After he had acquired proficiency in letters and arms, Somesvara installed him on the gadi, and himself retiring into the woods died in the practice of the yoga. As the eastern mountain shines beautiful by the rays that, it receives from the author of day, so did Prithviàja Shine in the royal insignia obtained from his father.
While Prithviraja was ruling over his subjects with justice, and keeping his enemies in terror, Shahābū’d-din was vigorously trying to subjugate the earth. 'l'ho kings of the West, suffering greatly at his hands, chose Šri Chandraraja,son of Govindaraja,as their spokosman, and in a body camo to Prithviraja, After the customary presents had been offred, the suppliant kings seated themselves in tho presence of Prithvirája, who, seeing the gloom of their countenances, asked the reason of their sorrow.Chandraraja replied to him that a Muhammadan named Shahabu’d dîn had arisen for the destruction of kings, and that he had pillaged and burnt most of their cities, defiled their women, and reduced them altogether to a miserable plight. “Sire,"said he, "there is scarcely a mountain-point valley in the country but is filled to suffocation with Rajputs who have fled thither før protection from his tyranny. A Rājput has but lo appear before him in arms, whom at once he is transferred to Yama's gloomy realm. Mob thinks Shahabud'din is Parasurama come down to this earth again for the exterpation of the warrior caste. The people are so panic-stricken that they abstain
