Mena, a Gurjar woman of surpassing beauty who hailed from Gadh Mandav, was happily married to Chandio, Chief of a warrior tribe of shepherds. After marriage she was ceremoniously taken to Gadh Gokul, her husband’s home, escorted by her husband’s younger brother, Hirio, for whom she had a special fondness. Mena was accorded a warm welcome by her in-laws.
One fine morning when Mena went to the village well to fetch water along with her companions, news reached there that the Crown Prince of the Emperor of Delhi had set up his camp in a village nearby. This aroused curiosity among them and they felt like visiting the camp. They were desirous of seeing the pomp and splendour of the court. Mena pleaded with her in-laws to give her permission to go with her companions to have a look at the Moghul camp. Her mother-in-law, however, warned her against going.
‘If you go there you will be in trouble. The Prince, who is known to be lecherous and notorious for his bacchanalian adventures will possibly kidnap you to his palace. He will outrage your modesty and you will suffer untold indignities at his hands. And, on top of it, you will get the stigma of shame.’
But when Mena showed utter unconcern, her mother-in-law remonstrated with her, saying she wanted to become the queen and therefore wished to visit the Moghul camp. Heedless alike of advice and even remonstrances, Mena said, ‘I must visit the camp. God will protect my honour.’ Clad in a fine variegated attire, a necklace of pearls round her neck, rings on ail the ten fingers, anklets jingling, she set out for the royal camp.
As she was trekking with four red pots of curd and milk placed one above the other on her head, every eye was fixed on her, so bewitching was her beauty, so captivating her charm, so attractive her gait, so fascinating her mien! The Crown Prince came to know that a curd-seller of uncommon beauty was selling curds and milk in the camp. He, therefore, went out to see her. No sooner did he see her than he was struck by her bewitching beauty and charm. He was, in fact, infatuated with her.
‘O you paragon of beauty!’ accosted the Prince, ‘why are you roving in the streets? Come to my harem, wear a veil over your face and enjoy all the pleasures of life.’
‘What the hell do I care for your palace and wealth? I am happy to wander about. What have I got to do with you? I would set your curtain on fire,’ replied Mena boldly.
‘Vile woman! How dare you reply like this to the emperor? But listen to me, O Gurjar woman! Why do you wear ornaments made of tinsel? Wear a gold chain, O fair one!’ coaxed the Prince.
‘My glass ornaments are good enough for me. I would set fire to your gold,’ replied Mena indignantly.
‘O fair lady! Listen to me. Why should you wear coarse garments? Wear prized ones,’ lured the Prince.
‘My coarse garments are good enough for me, I could set fire to your prized garments,’ replied Mena.
‘My elephants are majestic, O fair one, come to see them,’ said the Prince.
‘What is there to see in your elephants? I have a buffalo yielding one and a quarter mounds of milk. She is better than your elephant,’ replied Mena.
‘My princes are handsome. Come and see them,’ enticed the Prince.
‘What is there to see in you princes? My cowherd is much better,’ rebuffed Mena.
‘My sixteen hundred queens are very beautiful. Come and see them,’ said the Prince.
‘What is there to see in your queens? My maid-servant who fetches water for us is much better looking,’ replied Mena.
‘My horses are wonderful, O fair one, come to see them,’ said the Prince.
‘What is there to see in you horses? My cow at home is much better,’ replied Mena.
‘See my moustache, how wonderful it is! You should be captivated by it,’ boasted the Prince.
‘What is there to see in it? It is like my goat’s tail,’ replied Mena.
‘Where is your in-law’s house? Which man’s wife are you?’ asked the Prince.
‘Gadh Gokul is my in-law’s place and I am the wife of Chandio,’ replied Mena.
‘Which country’s cowherd are you? What is your name?’ asked the Prince.
‘I am a cowherd from Gadh Mandav and Mena Gurjari is my name,’ she replied.
All the lure and temptations offered by the Prince were thus spurned by Mena.
Turning to the pots of curd and milk, the Prince said,’ Tell me the price of that small pot, O fair one!’
‘If I tell you the price of the small pot, you will lose your senses,’ was the reply.
‘Tell me the price of the second pot, O fair one,’ asked the Prince.
‘If I tell you the price of the second one, you will stake all your sixteen hundred queens,’ replied she.
‘Tell me the price of the third pot,’ said the Prince.
‘If I tell you the price, you will forfeit your elephants,’ replied Mena.
‘Tell me the price of the fourth pot,’ said the Prince.
‘If I tell you the price of the fourth pot, the whole of your Delhi will be ruined,’ replied Mena.
‘Who gave this heavenly beauty? You are like a statuette made by a goldsmith,’ said the Prince.
‘God endowed me with beauty and Providence bestowed fortune on me,’ said she.
‘What are you babbling, O fair one? I would slap you,’ threatened the Prince.
‘Don’t think I am alone. My nine lakh Gurjars will invade your kingdom,’ replied Mena.
‘O, vile woman, how dare you give such a reply to the Prince?’ demanded the Prince.
‘Listen, O Prince, listen to me. I shall slap you and your turban will go flying in the air and your face will turn red. I will have your ponies, your camels, your shields and swords sold for a penny,’ rebutted Mena.
Mena was relentless. No power on earth could swerve her from her path of chastity.
Having failed in his attempts to seduce her, the Prince was enraged. He kidnapped her and ordered that the Gurjars be put in chains. Mena was taken captive in the camp.
Mena shed bitter tears, now she was repentant. She recalled what her mother-in-law had told her before she set out to see the camp. She did not lose courage. She was made of sterner stuff. She prayed to God for succour in her hour of trial.
A Brahmin cook who was also taken prisoner along with the Gurjars by the Prince secretly met her. Through the cook Mena sent a letter to her husband’s brother, Hirio, entreating him to come and rescue her. As soon as Hirio heard about the calamity that had befallen Mena, he was livid with rage.
The trumpets blared. The Gurjars were called upon to get ready to fight. Hirio led an army of nine lakh Gurjars against the Prince. A battle royal took place between the two armies. Hirio and Chandio fought valiantly and defeated the Prince. Mena was rescued by the chivalrous Gurjars. On return, Mena was refused a place in the family by her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, because she had lived in the harem of the Crown Prince. Pure and chaste, Mena rises in righteous indignation and ascends to divinity. Legend has it that she left the place and went to Pavagadh where she vanished and later came to be known as Mahakali.
Source: Folktales from Gujarat by R.M. Bhatt’
Picture Courtesy: Song of Village by Laxman Aelay
