One day he decided to have his infant daughter Maru married off to Dhola, the son of Nal, the king of Narwar and his good friend.

His journey to Poogal was uneventful apart from an inopportune encounter with Umar Sumar, the leader of a band of robbers who tried to persuade him that his wife Maru had been married off to somebody else.

Overwhelmed with grief Dhola decide to become the first ‘male sati’ in Rajput history by ascending the funeral pyre of his wife.

In his past life Dhola was a handsome young man who was catching fish in the village pond through angle called 'gari' in Chhattisgarhi.

Rewa, an exceptionally beautiful woman, who was daughter-in-law of some family in the village in her past life, came to fetch water seven times, expecting Dhola at least to say a word to her.

However, when getting no response from Dhola, she broke her silence by reciting following verse which rhymes:[5][6] gari khele, gari khelwa kahaaye, au lambe mele taar, saato lahut paani aaye ga Dhola, tai eko naiee bole baat [You are catching fish through angle like fisherman, and have put a long bait; I came to fetch water seven times, and you did not even bother to speak a single word!]

Dhola replied:[5][6] gari khelen, gari khelwa kahaayen, au lambe mele taar, tor le sughar ghar kaamin hai gori, ta tola eko naiee bole baat [I am catching fish through angle like a fisherman, and have put a long bait; And because my wife at home is more beautiful than you, O Madam, that I did not speak a word to you!]

Struck by heart-pinching reply, and rejection, she returned to her home and committed suicide by jumping into the well in her family garden called kola in Chhattisgarhi.

However, Dhola does not listen to her and goes to roam around Malhin para and is there confronted by a parrot who challenges him by saying:[5][6] Tor dadaa ke naak chunavti, huchurrraaaa!

[5][6] Maaru's geeyan [formal female friend] is married to one businessman (Baniya) in the town of Narour (most likely present day Nandour-Kalan, Chhattisgarh) where Dhola lives with Rewa.

She had recently visited her maayka (maternal home) at Pingla (most likely one of suburb of Malhar, Chhattisgarh[7]) and met her friend Maaru who had given her a love-letter to be delivered to Dhola.

On the eve of Vijay Dashmi (i.e. Navami before Dussehra), this friend of Maaru was combing her long hairs and watching out through the window.

Her husband replies that those people are king Nal and his wife Damyanti, who in their old age are wondering as to who will roam through city streets on chariot and receive the johar (greetings) on the behalf king from the citizens of Narour city as their only son Dhola is under house arrest at Rewa's palace.

Dhola convinces her that by seeing Rewa behind his chariot, everyone in the village will laugh at him and make jibes about his manhood and kingly authority.

So finally Rewa agrees to stay at home and Dhola Kuwar is allowed to go out to receive johar on the occasion of Dussehra.