A Forgotten Empire (Vijayanagar): A Contribution to the History of IndiaSewell, Robert
History
A Forgotten Empire (Vijayanagar): A Contribution to the History of India
Sewell, Robert
Vijayanagar (Empire) -- History
"He proceeded to Beejanuggur and being introduced to the roy, spoke
in such praise of the beauty and accomplishments of the young maid,
that he was fired with the desire of possessing her, and entreated
the bramin to procure her for him of her parents in marriage. This
request was what the bramin earnestly wished, and he immediately
agreed to satisfy him; upon which the roy despatched him with rich
gifts and great promises of favours to the parents, and the title of
ranee, or princess, for their beautiful daughter. The bramin lost no
time in his journey, and, upon his arrival at the farmer's house,
delivered to him and his wife the roy's orders, that they should
repair to Beejanuggur with their daughter. The parents were overjoyed
at such unexpected good fortune, and calling for the young maid, laid
before her the rich gifts of the roy, congratulated her on being soon
to be united to a great prince, and attempted to throw upon her neck
a golden collar set with jewels, as a token of immediate espousals,
and which, if done, could not have been broken off.
"The beautiful virgin, to their great astonishment, drawing her
neck from compliance, refused to receive the collar, and observed,
that whoever entered the harem of Beejanuggur, was afterwards not
permitted to see even her nearest relations and friends; and though
they might be happy to sell her for worldly riches, yet she was too
fond of her parents to submit to eternal absence from them, even
for all the splendour of the palace of Beejanuggur. This declaration
was accompanied with affectionate tears, which melted her parents;
who rather than use force, dismissed the bramin with all his gifts,
and he returned, chagrined and disappointed, to Beejanuggur....
"When the bramin arrived at Beejanuggur, and related to the roy the
failure of his scheme, the prince's love became outrageous, and he
resolved to gratify it by force, though the object resided in the
heart of Feroze Shaw's dominions.[92] For this purpose he quitted
Beejanuggur with a great army, on pretence of going the tour of his
countries; and upon his arrival on the banks of the River Tummedra,
having selected five thousand of his best horse, and giving the reins
of his conduct to love, commanded them, in spite of the remonstrances
of his friends, to march night and day with all expedition to
Mudkul,[93] and, surrounding the village where Pertal[94] lived,
to bring her prisoner to him, with her whole family, without injury."
The unexpected, however, happened. The king neglected to send the
Brahman to warn Pertal's family, and on the arrival of news at
Mudkal that a large force of the Raya's troops was approaching, the
inhabitants fled, and amongst them the girl and her relatives. The
troops therefore resumed, but on the way looted the country. They
were attacked by superior forces and 2000 of them were slain. This
led to a war.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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