The Chachnāma (Fatḥnāma-yi Sind) 35.1.7

35.1.7

One day Bhandwir Samani came to Dahar, and said: ‘O king, I see you busy the whole day with nothing but hunting and pleasures. You are amusing yourself with the games of chess and dice, while the Arab army has already arrived and alighted by your capital.’ ‘What plan can you suggest?’ asked Dahar. ‘Three plans occur to me,’ replied the Samani; ‘follow any of them. If you think it proper send away your children and dependents to Hind, and face the enemy alone in battle. You may then attack them in any direction you like, and fight with them, with your mailed animals, furious elephants, brave men and warriors. You should stop all the ways, so that they may not obtain grain and fodder. Or if you like, assemble round yourself all the forces that are, at this moment, under your command, and divide them into van-guard and rear-guard to cover your retreat, and then leave this place and go farther off to the territory behind that sandy desert, which will serve as a refuge to you. The residents of those parts will come to your assistance. Tell them:—‘I am a wall between you and the Arab army; if they do me any harm, you too will not escape destruction. So better come and enroll yourselves under my command and help me to fight.’ The third plan is that you should take your property and your followers with you to the territory of Jásam. That prince knows you very well, and will help you in every way.