The legends of the Panjâb

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BAJA RASAlO. 68
Thy spurring breaks my heart, E§,ja; injure not my body.
The day thou wert born, my mother Lakhi brought me
forth.
When thou wert brought up
in the cellar, I was fastened
there.
When thou didst come outside, I stood at the door.
When thou didst mount me the stakes were never lost.
They have broken their oaths, some day I shall lose my
head.
Then Bhaunr 'Iraqi, the horse, thinking his master to be really
in need of him, went cheerfully, and Jik^h Rasalu reached his
palace in the Murti Hills.
There, too, he found Raja Hodi.
A flight of sixty steps led down from the palace, and E3ja
Hodi descended thirty of them, and Eaja Rasalll called out to
him from below.
" mine enemy, strike me first, and I will see what I can do
afterwards."
But Raja Hodi replied, "It is not right that I strike you first."
"Shoot at me first with your arrow," said RSja Rasalu, "and
I will shoot afterwards. And we will shoot alternately thus."
So Raja Hodi shot an arrow at Raja Rasald, but Raja Rasalu
parried it and cut it in half with his sword. Then Raja Hodi
got ready another arrow, and Raja Rasalu called out,
"I said you were to shoot iAej^rsf arrow, and you are preparing
another. Very well, shoot on, and no further desire can
remain to you."
And Raja Hodi shot another arrow, but Raja
Rasalu put it
aside with his shield, and then he took an arrow from his
quiver to aim at Raja Hodi, while Raja Hodi got ready a
third arrow. So Raja RasaM said
PahiU Jcdni mdrid, Itdjd, Khudd Ud hachde
Dusri Icdm mdrid, main gaid Tiun Jehiside
Tisri hunt sddhid, sacM sdt lage de.
Thou didst shoot the first arrow, Raja, and God saved me
Thou didst shoot a second and I was vexed.
Thou hast got ready a third and my good luck has come.