Page 73 - English Class 08

This story of Prithviraj Chauhan’s life is

based on the ballad ‘Prithviraj Raso’ composed
by Chand Bardai, Prithviraj’s court poet.

According to the ballad, Prithvi was a
romantic, chivalrous and an extremely
ambitious king who, after ceaseless military
campaigns, extended his original kingdom from

Sambhar (Shakeambara) in present day
Rajasthan, to cover Rajasthan, Gujarat and
eastern Punjab. He ruled from his twin capitals
of Delhi and Ajmer. His fast growing kingdom

fetched the envy of the then powerful ruler of
Kannauj, Jaichand Gahadwala.

The story of Prithviraj’s exploits spread far
and wide and became the subject of discussion
among the nobility. Sanyogita, daughter of Jaichand, fell secretly in love with Prithviraj and
began a secret correspondence with him. Her father got wind of it and resolved to have her

safely wed at an early date. He arranged a ‘Swayamwara ceremony’, where a maiden selects
her husband from a number of suitors who have come to the ceremony at the invitation of
her guardian. Jaichand invited many Princes of acceptable status and heritage, but
deliberately did not invite Prithviraj. To add insult, a statue of Prithviraj was made and placed

at the door of the venue, thus, showing Prithviraj as the doorman! Prithviraj came to hear of
this. He made his plans and confined his plan to his lover, Sanyogita.

On the day of the ceremony, Sanyogita emerged from an
chivalrous : brave
inner chamber escorted to the venue of Swayamwara,
ceaseless : persistent
walked straight down the hall. Past the assembly of Princes,
deliberately : intentionally
by passing them all, she reached the door and garlanded assemblage : gathering

the statue of Prithviraj Chauhan infront of the whole obscure : unexplained
assemblage. The assemblage were stunned at this brash act,
but more was to follow. Prithviraj who had been hiding behind the statue in the garb of a
doorman, emerged, jumped upon the saddle of his horse and made a fast getaway from the
venue with Sanyogita. This caused a string of battles between the two kingdoms making

their kingdoms suffer heavily. The Chauhan–Gahadwala fight led to the weakening of the
Rajput kingdoms.

While this drama was being enacted, an obscure warlord named Muhammad of the
Ghor, in present day Afghanistan grew increasingly powerful. He captured and then

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