Gwalior, Pahar Ki Mothi
Journals of the Serpent King, Prithviraj by Walter Raleigh; Chapter 5: In to the Fires
6:00 AM, 30 December 1556, Etawah:
Gwaliar Challo!
Prithviraj couldn't help but smile at the enthusiasm of his troops. As they marched out of the small but beautiful town of Etawah, their spirit was renewed for the war ahead.
Just like Meerut, this town was a shadow of it's former glory. It used to be the financial capital of Panchala in the days of Mahabharat, filling thousands of merchants coffers. Now it might be enough for one or two to start a jeweler.
Clearing his head, he mounted his horse and started riding towards the main road, but Jaswantdas told him to follow him in another direction.
He agreed, but one thing he, nor his men, knew that they would be taking the route through the jungles. Jaswantdas didn't tell them, because he thought that this would demoralize the army.
He was too right for his own sake.......
*****
3:04 PM, 4 January 1557, Track from Etawah to Gwalior:
Men were dying at a great pace. What was originally meant to be a shortcut from Etawah to Gwalior, using the jungle as a detour to Gwalior turned into a nightmare. The army lost it's way and were in for hell. The Nepali soldiers were not immune to the diseases present, so were falling sick and dying. All men alike were dying from the constant raids by the Amir's, Bhil vassals, with their knowledge of the land and deadly weaponry. The army had lost a quarter of it's men and Jaswantdas himself, died from a poisoned arrow in the knee, before the army got back on it's original two day journey. Prithviraj's scouts told him that it would be four to six hours before the they made it out into clearer land. Prithviraj had instated Warish in Hussain's place, knowing that the young man was most capable. He knew he made the right choice when he noticed how seriously Warish took his job.
*****
6:15 PM, 4 January 1557, Track from Etawah to Gwalior:
"Ba Al Atish, Hameh Chi Bahakshide Shod"
Prithviraj and Sapal could both hear the beautiful Farsi hymns and smell the fire. A Zoroastrian hermitage. They knew that if they set up camp near the hermitage, they would be safe from raids, knowing the Bhil chieftans respected the holy fire. Going to the hermitage Prithviraj dismounted and waited for Magi to come out. As soon as the old man came out, Prithviraj said:
"O, venerable keeper of the Fire, grant me a place to stay for the night."
"Gladly son but who are you ? And these men with armour ? My name is Kurus, and I don't get many visitors here, so would you care to tell me your story ?........"
Journals of the Serpent King, Prithviraj by Walter Raleigh; Chapter 5: In to the Fires
6:00 AM, 30 December 1556, Etawah:
Gwaliar Challo!
Prithviraj couldn't help but smile at the enthusiasm of his troops. As they marched out of the small but beautiful town of Etawah, their spirit was renewed for the war ahead.
Just like Meerut, this town was a shadow of it's former glory. It used to be the financial capital of Panchala in the days of Mahabharat, filling thousands of merchants coffers. Now it might be enough for one or two to start a jeweler.
Clearing his head, he mounted his horse and started riding towards the main road, but Jaswantdas told him to follow him in another direction.
He agreed, but one thing he, nor his men, knew that they would be taking the route through the jungles. Jaswantdas didn't tell them, because he thought that this would demoralize the army.
He was too right for his own sake.......
*****
3:04 PM, 4 January 1557, Track from Etawah to Gwalior:
Men were dying at a great pace. What was originally meant to be a shortcut from Etawah to Gwalior, using the jungle as a detour to Gwalior turned into a nightmare. The army lost it's way and were in for hell. The Nepali soldiers were not immune to the diseases present, so were falling sick and dying. All men alike were dying from the constant raids by the Amir's, Bhil vassals, with their knowledge of the land and deadly weaponry. The army had lost a quarter of it's men and Jaswantdas himself, died from a poisoned arrow in the knee, before the army got back on it's original two day journey. Prithviraj's scouts told him that it would be four to six hours before the they made it out into clearer land. Prithviraj had instated Warish in Hussain's place, knowing that the young man was most capable. He knew he made the right choice when he noticed how seriously Warish took his job.
*****
6:15 PM, 4 January 1557, Track from Etawah to Gwalior:
"Ba Al Atish, Hameh Chi Bahakshide Shod"
Prithviraj and Sapal could both hear the beautiful Farsi hymns and smell the fire. A Zoroastrian hermitage. They knew that if they set up camp near the hermitage, they would be safe from raids, knowing the Bhil chieftans respected the holy fire. Going to the hermitage Prithviraj dismounted and waited for Magi to come out. As soon as the old man came out, Prithviraj said:
"O, venerable keeper of the Fire, grant me a place to stay for the night."
"Gladly son but who are you ? And these men with armour ? My name is Kurus, and I don't get many visitors here, so would you care to tell me your story ?........"
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