Qiran al-saʿdayn 1

1

Praise of God and the Prophet, and panegyric upon Mu'izzu-d din Kai-kubad, king by virtue of three descents: the first from Sultan Shamsu-d din Altamsh, the grandfather of his grandmother; the second from Nasiru-d din Mahmud Shah, the father of his grandmother; the third from Ghiyasu-d din Balban, his grandfather. Praise of the city of Dehli, which has three large forts and thirteen gates; of the Masjid-i Jama' and its lofty minaret, built by Shamsu-d -din; of the Hauz-i Shamsi, the terrace and dome which are in the centre of the Hauz. Praise of Hindustan, and the inhabitants of Dehli, its learned doctors, poets, singers, and chiefs.
"When Sultan Kai-kubad succeeded his grandfather Balban on the throne in h. 686, there were nearly five thousand nobles in attendance upon him, with an army of one hundred thousand men. His kingdom extended from the borders of Bengal to the river Sind. Upon receiving the news of his accession, his father, Baghra Khan, the son of Balban, advanced from his capital, Lakhnauti, to Oudh, with a powerful army, had the khutba read in his name, and proclaimed himself king under the title of Nasiru-d din Sultan. Kai-kubad, on receiving intelligence of his father's having marched to Oudh, ordered his officers to collect an army, which amounted to one hundred thousand horsemen. "He despatched his orders to every country, he summoned a chief from every city. The nobles of the land were assembled together; Maliks, Khans, Princes, and Kings; all the swordsmen of the country of Hind, all the spearmen of the province of Sind. The horsemen were so many that Khasas were of no consideration, and Paiks and Afghans were without number."
"On the forenoon of Monday, at the close of the month Zi-l hij, the victorious banners were displayed, and the moon-standard was exalted to the heavens. The king rode out from his fortunate palace, preceded by the star-banner and the cow-tail." His right wing was at Tilpat, his left wing at Indarpat, and the Paigah-i khas at Sirri, and his elephants occupied a breadth of three miles at Hapur. The king mounted his horse and went to Kilokhari to hunt. Praise of the new palace which he built there on the bank of the Jumna, and a description of the festivities he enjoyed there, and the charms of the season of autumn.