The legends of the Panjâb

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Raja TtASALiy. 17
Thea said tlie 11S,]1
Th marandidA do mue; do mane se ehdr;
Char rname se sat mue : char mard, tinn ndr !
From one dying two died j from two dying four died
From four dying seven died ; four male, three female !
Then the Raja left that place and arrived at Nila* City.
Then he sav an old woman weeping and laughing and making
chupdtls, and the Raji said to her, " Why do you weep and
laugh, mother, while you make the chupath "
But she replied, " Why do you ask what will you gain by
asking "
" Tell me the truth," said the Raja, " and one of us will
benefit by it."
Then the old woman said, " I had seven sons, and one by
one they have been killed by a giant,t till only one has remained,
and it is his turn to die to-day. I am making chupath,
because the king of this city has ordered that with the man
who is sent every day for the giant's dinner there shall be sent
a basket of bread and a buffalo.
Then said Eija Easalfi
Nd ro, mdtd hholie ; nd aswdn dhcdkde
Tere beie JA 'kcaz muih sir desdh chde.
Weep not, foolish mother ;
drop no tears
I will give up my head for thy son.
And the old woman replied, " But who will really risk his
life for another "
"I give you my word of honour," said the Eaja, "that
I will risk my life for your son." And saying this he dismounted
and sat down on her bed.
At that very moment the Kotwal of the city came up to
Raja Rasalu, and the old woman said
NUe-ghorewdlid, Edjd ;
munh dhurt, sir pag.,
Wohjo dehkte dunde,jin hhdid sard jag.
* This may be for Sila : it is more probably near the site of the ford
over the Indus at Bagh Nilab to the south of Atak.
t Bdhhas=Bdkshasa.