Endowed with loveliness and grace, fine accomplishments, unflinching
determination and selfless heroism, she not only repulsed an attack on the kingdom of
Gondwana by Bat Bahadur of Malwa, but also made a gallant defence against the onrush of
Moghul imperialism on it. She was a fearless hunter. It was her pledge that if a tiger had
made an appearance she didn't drink water till she had shot the tiger.
In 1564, the Moghul emperor Akbar directed one of his commanders
Asaf Khan to conquer the kingdom of Gondwana. On the advance of the huge imperial Moghul
army, Rani Durgavati was cautioned by her counselors to which she replied, "It is
better to die with glory than to live with ignominy". Her son Bir Narayan was
seriously wounded. But she waged the war with the great skill and bravery until she was
disabled by two arrow shots. Her faithful officers wanted to carry her from the battle
field to a place of safety. She rejected the proposal. In the true spirit of one having a
Rajput descent, Rani Durgavati preferred death to disgrace and stabbed herself. Thus her
end was as noble and devoted as her life had been useful for the kingdom during her
fifteen year of regency. The memory of this brave queen is cherished even today.
