Page:A Descriptive Catalogue of the Oriental Manuscripts, Vol. 2.djvu/49

 danger, Kdrnpila retired with his family and treasure (o Hosa* kola, leaving to R&ma the defence of Gumati — as soon as the enemy appeared at this place, Rama marched to their encoun- ter and drove them back four kos— but subsequently Mdtangi seduced the Telugu soldiers in Rama's army, and they treache- rously introduced the enemy into the fort during the night-r- when Rama was apprised of what had occurred, he sprang from bed, and hastened to the battle desiring his wives to pre- pare for their fate in case they should hear of his death. Pro- ceeding to the scene of conflict he speedily plunged into the thickest of the affray, where encountering Mdtangi he seized her nose-ring and shaking it told her, he disdained to take the life of a woman. His bravest soldiers surprised and over- powered by numbers fell fast around him, and he was left alone. After maintaining the conflict for a long time, and killing vast numbers of his assailants, he was at last slain, and Mdtangi cut off bis head, and carried it to Delhi. The Sultan placed the head, on the Palace gate, where in the night it made so hideous an outcry that he was glad to get rid of it, and it was thrown into a ditch four kos remote— there the cry was repeated, so that numbers died of the fright it occasioned. The Sultan or- dered it to be carried to a stitl greater distance, but every at* tempt made by men and elephants to move it from the spot proved ineffectual. In thisjdilemma it was suggested that the Bards of Rama should be employed to recite his praises, and messengers were sent to Kdrnpila to solicit their assistance.— Devaya their chief was accordingly sent but his panegyrics at first were in vain— at last being so instructed in a vision he saluted R&ma as the subduer of the Sultan of Delhi, the Supreme So- vereign of the world, on which he was able to lift the head with ease — being permitted to take it away he carried it to Kampila who after weeping over it sent it to K&si to be plunged to the holy waters of the Gangs."