10-22-2004, 01:36 AM
To start off this thread I will copy paste a couple of posts from user Abhijit_ST.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->There is a great legend of Shvaji Maharaj's first c-in-c Prataprao Gurjar. The legend has been immortalized in a Marathi powada (powada is a Shourya-rasa song). The legend has it that Bahlol khan was initially defeated by Prataprao and khan begged for his life. Prataprao, in a fit of generosity, spared khan's life and true to the jihadi/al-takiya character of khan, he reverted back and inflicted defeat on Marathas. When Shivaji Maharaj came to know of Prataprao's deed (of sparing khan's life) he was so furious that he ordered Prataprao to kill bahlol khan and present his head or else Prataprao need not show his face to Raje. Prataprao was a fierce and proud warrior and would try to get bahlol's head or die trying. He approached his sena and challenged them to the task - when it was outright impossible to achieve it. 6 of his comrades rose to the task - fully knowing that it was nothing but suicide to attack a fortified mughal army. The powada describes the heroics of these 7 (including Prataprao) veer marathas against an entire mughal army. Those 7 veer Marathas died in a blaze of glory. Even today, every time I listen to this powada or sing it myslef, I can't stop my tears. If interested, I can post the powada and its translation.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Myaanatun usale talwarichi paat
vedaat marathe veer daudale saat
(the swords sprang from the sheaths as 7 maratha warriors rushed (to battle) in a fit of rage)
te phirata baajus dole kinchit ole
sardar saha sarsavuni uthale shele
rikibit takale paay jhelale bhale
uslale dhuliche megh saat nimishat (2)
- vedaat marathe veer daudale saat
(as (Prataprao's) moist eyes fell on his comrades (this was after he declared that he was going to attack bahlol khan - alone if he had to and severe his head or die trying) 6 of his knights sprang to their feet, mounted their horses and grabbed their lances. They left behind 7 clouds of dust as the sped towards mughal army.
Aashcharyamugdh taakun maaguti sena
apamaan bujavinya saat arpuni maana
chhavanit shirale thet bhet ganimana
kosalalya ulka jalat saat dariyat (2)
- vedaat marathe veer daudale saat
(they left behind a shell-shocked troop - to erase a blot on their valor and their self-respect (in those times, Shivaji Maharaj's displeasure was considered to be worse than death by his fanatically loyal troops), they rushed into the enemy camp directly in a blaze reminiscent of 7 fiery meteors falling into a sea.
khaalun aag var aag aag bajuni
samsher usalali sahastrakrur imaani
gardit lopale saat jeev te maani
khaga saat jalale abhimaani vanavyaat (2)
- vedaat marathe veer daudale saat
((as they fell upon an entire mughal army) they were met with firce fighting - as if they were engulfed by fire from all sides. They fought with their trusted swords, (but) in the end, the 7 warriors were killed in the melee. As if 7 birds were incinerated in a jungle fire of glory and 'abhimaan'.
dagadavar disatil ajuni tethalya tacha
paanyaat tarange ajuni rang raktacha
kshitijavar uthato ajuni megh maaticha
adyaap virani kuni varyavar gaat (2)
- vedaat marathe veer daudale saat
(the stones in that battleplace still display the footprints
the water still carries streaks of (Maratha) bloodstains
the clouds of dust still can be seen over the horizon
while you can still hear the songs of their exploits.)<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->There is a great legend of Shvaji Maharaj's first c-in-c Prataprao Gurjar. The legend has been immortalized in a Marathi powada (powada is a Shourya-rasa song). The legend has it that Bahlol khan was initially defeated by Prataprao and khan begged for his life. Prataprao, in a fit of generosity, spared khan's life and true to the jihadi/al-takiya character of khan, he reverted back and inflicted defeat on Marathas. When Shivaji Maharaj came to know of Prataprao's deed (of sparing khan's life) he was so furious that he ordered Prataprao to kill bahlol khan and present his head or else Prataprao need not show his face to Raje. Prataprao was a fierce and proud warrior and would try to get bahlol's head or die trying. He approached his sena and challenged them to the task - when it was outright impossible to achieve it. 6 of his comrades rose to the task - fully knowing that it was nothing but suicide to attack a fortified mughal army. The powada describes the heroics of these 7 (including Prataprao) veer marathas against an entire mughal army. Those 7 veer Marathas died in a blaze of glory. Even today, every time I listen to this powada or sing it myslef, I can't stop my tears. If interested, I can post the powada and its translation.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Myaanatun usale talwarichi paat
vedaat marathe veer daudale saat
(the swords sprang from the sheaths as 7 maratha warriors rushed (to battle) in a fit of rage)
te phirata baajus dole kinchit ole
sardar saha sarsavuni uthale shele
rikibit takale paay jhelale bhale
uslale dhuliche megh saat nimishat (2)
- vedaat marathe veer daudale saat
(as (Prataprao's) moist eyes fell on his comrades (this was after he declared that he was going to attack bahlol khan - alone if he had to and severe his head or die trying) 6 of his knights sprang to their feet, mounted their horses and grabbed their lances. They left behind 7 clouds of dust as the sped towards mughal army.
Aashcharyamugdh taakun maaguti sena
apamaan bujavinya saat arpuni maana
chhavanit shirale thet bhet ganimana
kosalalya ulka jalat saat dariyat (2)
- vedaat marathe veer daudale saat
(they left behind a shell-shocked troop - to erase a blot on their valor and their self-respect (in those times, Shivaji Maharaj's displeasure was considered to be worse than death by his fanatically loyal troops), they rushed into the enemy camp directly in a blaze reminiscent of 7 fiery meteors falling into a sea.
khaalun aag var aag aag bajuni
samsher usalali sahastrakrur imaani
gardit lopale saat jeev te maani
khaga saat jalale abhimaani vanavyaat (2)
- vedaat marathe veer daudale saat
((as they fell upon an entire mughal army) they were met with firce fighting - as if they were engulfed by fire from all sides. They fought with their trusted swords, (but) in the end, the 7 warriors were killed in the melee. As if 7 birds were incinerated in a jungle fire of glory and 'abhimaan'.
dagadavar disatil ajuni tethalya tacha
paanyaat tarange ajuni rang raktacha
kshitijavar uthato ajuni megh maaticha
adyaap virani kuni varyavar gaat (2)
- vedaat marathe veer daudale saat
(the stones in that battleplace still display the footprints
the water still carries streaks of (Maratha) bloodstains
the clouds of dust still can be seen over the horizon
while you can still hear the songs of their exploits.)<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->