The legends of the Panjâb

t
!
No. XVI.
PRINCESS NIWAL DAI,
AS SUNG BY TWO SCAVENGERS FROM BIBITAL
VILLAGE NEA.R AMBALA.
[This legend covers the whole ground of the story of the war between the
Aryans and the N^gas, from the abduction of Niwal Dai, the daughter of
Vasuki the N4ga monarch, by Parikshit the Pfindava king of Hastinfipura
and the consequent murder of Parikshit by VAsuki's emissaries to the final
destruction of the Njlgas by Parikshit's son Janamejaya in revenge for
his father's death. It contains mucb that is not to be found in the Mahabhdrata
and Bh&gavata versions, and also much that is obviously based
on the same foundations as the classical story.]
[The style is excessively uncouth, but the value of the tale is enhanced by
the fact that the social isolation of the class that sing and retain it
renders them peculiarly free from those Brahmanical influences with
which the orthodox version of the Sanskrit classics is so overcharged.]
TEXT.
Rag Rani Niwal Dai Betl
Awalan, Debi parbat man basni,
Tere slier dardke bS,nke bhawan men
Raja Bdsak Ici.
Basak Raja see tha Dhartmandal men :
TRANSLATION.
The Song of Princess Niwal Dai, the Daughter of Raja
Basak*
First (I worship thee), Goddess dwelling in the
mountains.
The lions roar at thy splendid temple !
Raj^ Basak was sleeping in Dhartmandal. J
* Basak is Vasuki, but I tave not been able to ascertain wio Niwal
Dai represents, except it be Jaratkarii of the Mahdbhdrata Legend.
t Parvati, the spouse of Siva.
X Explained to be Patala, the fabled nether dwelling of the Nagas or
Serpents, but it is really I think some portion of the Southern Panjab ;
() the Multan Province.