22

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.

The customs of the Pársis in reference to these matters, I am persuaded, are of great antiquity.

[JANUARY, 1873.

his testimony to the chief Dastur of the Kadamí Parsis of Bombay (now holding the office of the

I have numerous Sassanian coins and a few medals

late learned Mullah Firoz); and he has certified to

in my collection. On their reverse they have all a fire-altar with one or two worshippers

me its accuracy.

represented having both their head

and feet

covered.

A plate given by Anquetil du Perron repre sents a Párst repeating the prayer of the Kusti, or sacred cincture, with his head covered and shoes on his feet. In describing the Civil and Religious

Usages of the Pársis, Anquetil thus writes :-" Les

-

-

In the collection of fragmentary writings forming the Zendaresta of the Pársis, I do not remember to have met with any passage making express men tion of the covering or uncovering of the feet, except

when a person is enjoined to lay aside his shoes, as well as to strip himself of his clothes, when he enters water to drag from it a dead body (Wendi dad, fargard VI. 56). In the Patits, or Penitential

Mobeds sont sans sonliers dans l'Atesch-gāh ils

Services of the Pársis, written in old Persian or

mont que des chaussons; ou sºils se servent de pan toufles, il faut qu'en sortant ils les laissent dans l'Atesch-gāh. Les mémes précautions doivent avoir

Gujarátí, such expressions as the following occur :

lieu a l'égard de l'Izesch-khanéh. Il n'est guères

possible d’aller dans les rues sans que les souliers deviennent impurs, ce qui oblige de les quitter en entrant dans l'Atesch-gāh ; et faire trois gåms les

– “If I have gone without the Kustí (the sacred

cincture), I repent of it. If I have defiled my feet, I repent of it" (Patit Kod, 19). “If I have walked on the earth with only one shoe on, if I have buried corpses in the earth, . . . if I have gone on the earth without shoes. . . ., I repent of it" (Patit

pieds nuds c'est commettre, à chaque gam, le péché

Irāni, 7). Other passages of a similar import are

Farman." In corroboration of this statement, he refers to the Pārsi Raváits, or Collections of Tradi

to be found in these Penitential Prayers.

tions and Correspondence (between the Pársis of India and the Zoroastrians of Persia). I have read

Though oaths are allowed to the Pársis, no in junctions about the form of them are given in their sacred books,

THE PRITHIRAJA RASAU, OF KAVI CHAND BARDAI.

Extract FROM THE KANHAPATT1 PRASTAv–FIFTH Book.

When Prithirāja was a minor, Bholā Bhima ruled in Gujarat. Sārang Deva was his uncle, whose sons were Pratāp Simha and his six brothers-Arisińha, Gokaldās, Govind, Harisińha, Syām, and Bhagwān.

Mewas, plundering the Yādava's country. A com

Ray, Narsińha, Kaimás, and other warriors. Pri thirāja shone in the midst as the new moon on the second day of the light half. Around him shone a cluster of stars. Pratāp, with his seven brothers, paid obeisance to Prithirāja. He came and sat down opposite to Kanh. The Mahābhārata was the subject of talk. Pratāp put his hand to his mous tache. Kanh Chauhān saw it. He drew his sword, the devourer of many. He cut him where the joneii was worn. “Hu !’ ‘hu !’ sounded through

plaint was made to Bhima, who went against them.*

the hall. Pratāp fell. Arisińha was enraged : he

He encamped on the bank of a river, and his ele

struck Kanh on the left arm with his sword.

phant, bathing in it, was slain by Pratāp and Ari

raged like a lion awakened, or a fire having ghi

Simha. They killed also the mahaut. When he heard of it, Bhima declared that, though previously

thrown into it. Kunvar Prithirāja rose and retired into his pakace. Behind him he closed the door. The fight raged in the hall. Arisiiha struck Nar sińha on the head with his sword, and pierced Ram bha the Bargujar. Seeing this Chāmand was en raged. The strife was like a forest conflagration. Kanh slew Arisimha. Govind with a jamdad in his hand furiously attacked the Chauhān. Kanh seized

They were brave warriors, they owned the sway of no master. They slew Rāna, the most powerful of the Jhalás. When Sărang Deva died, Pratāp Siiiha

succeeded him, and his brothers served under him.

They had five hundred horse. They lived in the

he had intended only to seize them, he would now think it no fault to slay them. When the brothers

heard this they contemplated leaving Gujarat, meantime Prithirāja sent for them : he gave them grants (pata) of villages and other presents, and treated them with great respect. The seven

Chalukya brothers, crafty and bold, remained faith fully in his service, coming one by one they placed

and slew him.

Narsińha threw

Kanh

his arms round

court among his Sāmants, having made a brilliant

Harisiiiha, and others rained blows upon him, but he threw Narsińha down and got above him. Châmand plunged his sword into his back. Hari sińha followed Ari and pierced the mansion of the

assembly. Kanh the Chauhān was also seated there, his long moustaches looking terrible, with Châmand

mother who not even in thought attempted to flee.

his feet on their heads. Once on a time the son of Som was seated in his

sun.

Well done Chāluk 1

well done his father and

• About 70 lines descriptive of the army and its march omitted.—J. B.