ब्रट्धम्म ब्रफ़नावली সেই চপনপ্রদেশে অনেকদিন অবধি নিজজন কন্দরে ও উন্নত শিখরে রজনী দ্বিপ্রহরের সময় একটী রমণী-কন্ঠনিঃসত গীত শ্রত হইত। অতি প্রতাষে, পথিকগণ কখন কখন সেই পব্বতন্ত্রদের তীরে একটী রমণীয় পাডু মুখ ও উজ্জল নয়ন দেখিতে পাইত। লোকে বলিত, কোন বিশ্রামশন্যা, উদ্বিগ্না প্রেতকন্যা হইবে। পঞ্চল্লিংশ পরিচ্ছেদ ঃ রাজপত জীবন-সন্ধ্যা প্রতিকলতামপেগতেহি বিধেী বিফলত্বমেতি বহসাধনতা । অবলম্ববনায় দিনভত্তরেভুং ন পতিষাতঃ করসহস্রমাপ ॥ —শিশুপালবধম। ১৫৯৭ খঃ অব্দে প্রতাপের মৃত্যু হয়* । তাহার পর সম্রাট আকবর প্রায় আট বৎসর রাজত্ব করিয়াছিলেন; তিনি জীবিত থাকিতে মেওয়ার বিজয়ের আর কোন উদ্যম হয় নাই।
- যে ইতিহাস অবলম্বন করিয়া উপন্যাস রচিত হইল, সেই ইতিহাস হইতে প্রতাপসিংহ সম্পবন্ধে দই একটী মন্তব্য এইস্থলে উদ্ধত করিতেছি—
“Pertap succeeded to the titles and renown of an illustrious house, but without a capital, without resources his kindred and clans dispirited by reverses; yet possessed of the noble spirit of his race, he meditated the recovery of Cheetore, the vindication of the honour of his house, and the restoration of its power. Elevated with his design, he hurried into conflict with his powerful antagonist, nor stooped to calculate the means which were opposed to him. Accustomed to read in his country's annals the splendid deeds of his forefathers, and that Cheetore had more than once been the prison of their foes, he trusted that the revolution of fortune might co-operate with his own efforts to overturn the unstable throne of Delhi. The reasoning was as just as it was noble; but whilst he gave a loose to those lofty aspirations which meditated liberty to Mewar, his crafty opponent was counteracting his views by a scheme of policy which, when disclosed, filled his heart with anguish. The wily Mogul arrayed against Pertap his kindred in faith as well as blood. The princes of Marwar, Amber, Bikaneer and even Boondi late his firm ally, took part with Akbar and upheld despotism. Nay, even his own brother, Sagarji, deserted him, and received, as the price of his treachery the ancient capital of his race, and the little which that possession conferred. “But the magnitude of the peril confirmed the fortitude of Pertap, who vowed, in the words of the bard to make his mother's milk resplendent'; and he amply redeemed his pledge. Single-handed, for a quarter of a century did he withstand the combined efforts of the empire; at one time carrying destruction into the plains, at another flying from rock to rock, feeding his family from the fruits of his native hills, and rearing the nursing hero Umra, amidst savage beasts and scarce less savage men a fit heir to his prowess and revenge. The bare idea that 'the son of Bappa Rawul should bow the head to mortal man', was unsupportable; and he spurned every overture which had submission for its basis, or the degradation of uniting his family by marriage with the Tatar, though lord of countless multitudes. The brilliant acts he achieved during that period live in every valley : they are enshrined in the heart of every true Rajpoot, and many are recorded ෆඇ8
