The Child Sati
This is perhaps one of the most poignant descriptions by Bernier:
At Lahore I saw a most beautiful young widow sacrificed, who could not, I think, have been more than twelve years of age. The poor little creature appeared more dead than alive when she approached the dreadful pit; the agony of her mind cannot be described; she trembled and wept bitterly; but three or four of the Brahmanas, assisted by an old woman who held her under the arm, forced the unwilling victim toward the fatal spot, seated her on the wood, tied her hands and feet, lest she should run away, and in that situation the innocent creature was burnt alive. I found it difficult to repress my feelings and to prevent their bursting forth into clamorous and unavailing rage-
Questions:
(i) Describe what Bernier saw at Lahore.
(ii) How had the agony of the girl been described?
(iii) How and why was the girl forced towards the fatal spot?
(i) At Lahore Bernier saw a most beautiful young widow sacrificed, who could not, he thought, have been more than twelve years of age. The poor little creature appeared more dead than alive when she approached the dreadful pit.
(ii) The agony of girl mind could not be described by Bernier. She trembled and wept bitterly; but three or four of the Brahmanas assisted by an old woman who held her under the arm, forced the unwilling victim toward the fatal spot, seated her on the wood, tied her hands and feet, lest she should run away.
(iii) The girl was forced by some people to pyre which was to put on fire. The girl was burnt alive. She went there helplessly. According to Bernier while some women seemed to embrace death cheerfully, others were forced to die.
