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The hero of the poem is Hammira Chohan of Ranathambapura (Ranathambhor), a name celebrated in Hindi song. Hammira is one of those later heroes of India, who measured their swords with the Muhammadan conquerors and fell in the defence of their independence. Even the history of the conquered is not without interest. The man who fights against hope, -fights because he thinks it is his duty to do so,- who scorns to bow his neck before the oppressor, because he thinks such a course opposed to the ways of his ancient house, deserves our sympathy and our admiration, Hammira is such a character. The poet places him on par with Mandata , Yudhishthira, and Rama. This is poetical exaggeration, but we have no mean measure of praise in the following verses; and the grounds of eminence mentioned are some of the proudest that a Rājput can cherish, and a rigid maintenance of which singles out the race of the Sisodyàs of Udayapur and the Haras of Koţå and Bundi as the noblest among the chivalry of Rājasthān;--
- "सत्वैकवृतेः किल यस्य राज्यश्रेियो विलासा अपि जीवितं च ।
- शकाय पुत्रीं शरणागताश्चाऽप्रयच्छतः किं तृणमप्यऽभवन् ॥"
Born in the noble house of the Chohans, to whom, as Ted observes, “the palm of bravery amongst the Rājput races must be assigned,” Hammira tried to uphold the independence of his race and to make its usages respected, and was for a time pre-eminently successful in his wars against his enemies. Some of these were undertaken to protect those who had sought refuge with him (śaraná), and so far were disinterested. Indeed, he fell in a war undertaken to protect a Mongol nobleman who had fled to him from the tyranny of 'Alāud-din, “In the third year of the reign of 'Alāud-din, a nobleman whom he had disgrced took refuge with Hammira, the Chohān prince of Ranathaibhör, one of the strongest forts in India, ‘Alāud-din demanded the delinquent of the
