As already mentioned, Princess Soamyogita, the daughter of Kannauj king Raja Jaichanda was a famed beauty. The news of her beauty had reached the ears of young Prithviraj also. Being a normal young royal he became curious to find out if the princess was as beautiful as people claimed. To find the truth he sent a confident courtier named Pannarai to Kannauj. Pannarai was a very good painter as well.
He went to the court of Jaichanda as a visiting painter to display his work. Fortunately he received an invitation from the princess to visit the palace with his work samples. He met Princes Samyogita which infact was his real mission. To his pleasant surprise he discovered that the princess was herself secretly in love with the young Delhi ruler, Prithviraj. She tried to squeeze information on Prithviraj from Pannarai during their talks. He presented a portrait of Prithviraj Chauhan to Samyogita to get her deeper in love with Prithviraj. Pannarai stayed at Kannauj for some time stoking fire of love in the heart of the princess.
The situation was ironical. While Samyogita pined for Prithviraj her father roasted himself in jealousy against the same person. Pannarai was assessing the political situation of Kannauj on the side as an agent of Delhi court.
One day he thought of painting a portrait of Princess Samyogita for the benefit of Prithviraj. The princess readily agreed to pose for him. The painter portrayed Samyogita with a rose in her hand in a posture as if she wished to present it to some dear one. It was indeed a beautiful picture. Pannarai had put his heart in that work since it was a great pleasure to picture the incredibly beautiful princess Samyogita.
Samyogita stared at the portraiat and said, “You are a very good artist, Pannaraiji. The painting is very beautiful. I look fantastic.”
Pannarai said, “Princess, you are more beautiful than this portait. It is not my art or my imagination. I have just tried to reporoduce your beauty on canvass. You are like a celestial beauty.”
Samyogita blushed and did not react.
Pannarai said, “Princess soon I will be going to Delhi. Have you any message for Raja of Delhi?”
“Message?” Samyogita get thinking. After a sigh she said, “There are a lot of messeges. What message to choose is a confusing question.”
Suddenly, she rose and walked to the room where Pannarai had painted her picture. Her portrait and colour were still there. She picked up a brush and daubed it in a dark colour. Then she wrote something on her portrait in which she stood with a rose. In a corner she had very neatly written—”To Delhi ruler with love.’
Pannarai stared at those words but keep quite.
“Painter Pannarai! You were asking for some message from me for your Raja?”
“Yes Princess! He should know I had been doing some constructive work here in Kannauj.”
“Very good! Present this portrait of mine to him. A solid proof of your being at work.”
Pannarai smiled, bowed gratefully and said, “So kind of you Princess beautiful. And thank you for your generosity in treating me nicely and sparing time for me. Now I beg for your leave.”
Samyogita raised her hand in a pretty manner saying, “Our Pleasure.”
Back in Delhi Pannarai met Prithiviraj and revealed every detail on princess Samyogita. With great interest the Delhi ruler listened.
“So she is really that beautiful? You make it sound as if she were out of this world creature,” he commented.
“She indeed is My Lord, in beauty.”
“Do I have to take your word for it?”
“Not necessarily my king. I am an artist and an artist can produce substantial proof,” the painter proudly announced.
“So, you have picture her?”
“Naturally My Lord. You will see what the princess really looks like.” He produced the portrait of Samyogita from his satchel and placed it before Prithviraj.
Prithviraj stared at the stunning beauty of the portrait and sighed unwittingly.
“She is a beauty indeed! Incredible!” He softly muttered.
“There is a message for you, my king.”
“Message! For me!! Where?” Raja asked sharply.
“Look at the right hand corner of the portrait, Your Majesty,” Pannarai informed.
Prithviraj peered at the corner and read those words—”To Delhi ruler with love.”
Young Raja looked confused. What was she presenting with love? Her portrait or rose?? or herself?
“Did she say something?” Raja asked.
“Nothing, My Lord. Just asked me to give it to you as her message. It is clear that she loves you and it was apparent from her talks. She is offering her love, the rose to you. You may accept her love and reciprocate or just forget about it. Listen to your heart my king.”
Prithviraj smiled and he pressed the portrait of Samyogita to his bosom and sighed, “Listen to my heart for me.”
Pannarai smiled.
“My heart accepts the love of princess Samyogita of Kannauj.” Prithviraj gazed at the princess longingly. The painter exited.
