The Chachnāma (Fatḥnāma-yi Sind) 16.1
The Chachnamah, an Ancient History of Sind 16.1
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16.1.1
Daharsiah entertained hopes that, if Déhar remained negligent and careless, the fort would fall into his hands. He therefore made efforts in that direction. He rode on very fast, in the fashion of cavaliers giving exercise to their horses, and in one day and night he travelled twenty leagues, and early the next morning he arrived at Alór. Dahar (meanwhile) had made preparations to go on a hunting excursion. Just as his horse was brought to life. In such matters, even a son does not consider it proper to repose trust in his father, and a father does not consider it proper to repose trust in his son. If, however, you are determined to have your way, you must wash your hands of your life. From no point of view does this step appear to me a right one.” “Then what is the counsel of perfection for us in this matter?” asked Dahar. “The counsel of perfection,” replied the wazir, “for you is that you should shun your brother’s love and friendship and not be anxious to meet him. Better secure yourself within the walls of the fort, and act according to the words of the astrologers and soothsayers and follow their advice. No other plan will be of any good to you in this matter.” According to this suggestion, Dahar made up his mind and took shelter in the fort, and laid up stores of the articles that he considered necessary for the garrison, like grain, grass and firewood. He collected men, arms and appliances of war, and made himself quite ready to repulse the attack of the enemy.
16.1.2
Dahar then wrote a letter to Daharsiah, in which he expressed his respect and reverence and submission, (but) as to the affair of Bai he wrote as follows:— ‘Though Bai is connected with our father, she was born of a daughter of the Jats who, by their origin, are an adverse and criminal tribe. You will specially find when you come to know their true nature that, they are unworthy of trust and confidence, and are far from being honest and faithful. There is a well-known proverb which says ‘whoever caught hold of a sheep’s leg, got milk for himself, and whoever caught the hand of a Jat fell on his face.’ Thus when she is of foreign extraction, my marriage with her is lawful. Do not, therefore, insist any more upon your view. But if you still have any suspicion against me, I hereby solemnly promise and swear that, in everything I shall consider you my superior and will hold the fort of Alór as an agent of yours, and will never oppose you or quarrel with you, (Accept my compliments.’’ means of their science, that this princess would be the queen of Alór, and her husband would be the king who was to hold fast all these territories. To remedy and avert this unpleasant consequence, I took it upon myself to commit this shameful breach of royal etiquette and social rules. We now make the apology that what we considered expedient to do was done through necessity, and not of our own free will. Do therefore excuse us.”
16.1.3
When Daharsiah received this letter, he sent a reply in which he said: “What you have done is wicked and infamous. Whether you did it through necessity or of your own free will, you can never be excused, and whether you considered it allowable to do such an illegal and detestable act, in order to secure worldly pomp and power, or took the initial step by reason of the temptation of the devil, what you now ought to do is to turn from your evil ways, to forswear your sin, and to grieve (for your transgression), so that you may not be shut off from (the communion of) our religion, and our alliance with you may not be cancelled. If you fail to turn from this sin, in accordance with our suggestion and advice, you will make yourself deserving of opprobrium and will receive (your) punishment. You would have then to thank yourself for the consequences of these ugly deeds.” When this letter of Daharsiah came to Dahar, he thought of going to his brother. He consulted the wazír, saying: “Let me go to him at Bráhmanábád,” but the wazír said: “What good will that do you?”
16.1.4
The wazír continued: “Long life to the king! You have committed a great mistake in thinking of such an enterprise, (an enterprise) which can by no means secure you your heart’s desire, while its dangerous issue can no way be averted, except by the destruction of your life. When you are once in the presence of your brother, you must bid adieu to all hopes of your safety. If you believe that your brother will do you no despite, then you are harbouring what is a great impossibility in your mind. In matters relating to territory, wealth and woman, partnership or negligence is not allowable; for (if allowed) it is sure to end in danger to Rai Dáhar said: “Go and enquire from him foreign and home affairs, the general aspect of the kingdom, and the business of our State.” That man then rose and said: “Long live the king! Victorious and grand kings should not grudge to spend their leisure in the society of wise men, and in bestowing favours on learned men and teachers of morals and Brahmans, for they are our leaders and guides. It should be considered a bounden duty to visit them, and to reverence them. Their content leads to the increase of dignity and rank, and to the perpetuation of greatness and magnificence. It is also a good augury that, the person wishing to know about an event, should himself visit astrologers and put them questions personally and receive answers from them directly.” Dáhar fell in with this suggestion, and ordered a litter to be put on (his) elephant.
16.1.5
He came to the astrologer’s house. When the astrologer saw the king, he came forward to receive him, and said: “May the king live long! On what business has he come?” Dáhar said: “We have a question to put in connection with some military affairs which we want to take in hand, and we want you (also) to prognosticate the final issue of some State affairs, laws and statutes of the kingdom, and many other matters of importance.” The astrologer said: “All the auspicious stars are gazing at the rising star of your good fortune. There is no sinister quadrangular aspect of stars, nor any ominous aspect in the opposite quarter. This fort and this kingdom are allotted to you for several years and will remain in your possession. If your majesty happens to go on a journey, it will prove to be fortunate, and your majesty will return safe and happy to the throne of glory.” Then the king asked: “What do the stars say about my sister Bái’s fortune”; and the astrologer replied: “My calculations lead to the inference that she shall never go out of this fort of Alór and that no one shall be married to her except the king, who shall have the kingdom of Hindustán under his sway and dominion: this girl shall be united to him by the tie of marriage.” When the astrologer explained this matter to him, Dáhar became sunk in thought as to how that would come to pass. returned home, and disclosed everything to Budhiman the Téki Wazir, who was the prime minister of his father.
16.1.6
The wazir said to Dahar: “The administration of a large kingdom is a delicate matter; and for a king of (many) regions and institutions and armies and servants, to cut off his connection with his kingdom is an affair of pith and moment. Illustration.—There are five things, which, when they shift from their proper places, have a sorry look, viz, 1st a king (when shifted) from his kingdom; 2nd a minister from his ministership; 3rd a (learned) spiritual guide from his disciples; 4th hair and teeth (from their original positions); and 5th the breasts of women (from their position in youth). When these move beyond their proper places, they cease to be graceful. For the sake of (their) kingdom, kings bring their brothers and relations to death, or else banish them from their country. They do not allow adherents or dependents to intermeddle with or share their sovereignty. When a king retires from his kingdom, he becomes reduced to equality with the common people, and, as the astrologer has thus directed, you ought to marry your sister and seat her with you on the throne.
16.1.7
Though you shall have to abstain from her conjugal society she will (still) be called your wedded wife, and the kingdom will (thus) remain with you.” Dáhar called to him those 500 Thákurs, who were (now) among his chief and confidential men, and said: “In all matters I repose full trust and confidence in your ability and bravery, and I cannot do without your counsel and advice, and my orders are executed, throughout my territories, with your help. Astrologers have now predicted that the princess Bái shall never go to any other place from this fort, and that he shall be her husband, who shall retain this country in his possession for a long time. It is not meet that this kingdom be transferred to other hands, and you ought to think over this matter. To cut oneself off from a kingdom is a very difficult thing, and what wazír Budhiman considers expedient involves a great disgrace, is immoral and will bring dishonour on our Brahman family. When this disagreeable news reaches the ears of other kings of our time, and is in the mouths of the public, they will excommunicate us, and a confusion will arise in our religion.”