The Chachnāma (Fatḥnāma-yi Sind) 6: The coming of Chach son of Seláij to pay respects to the chamberlain Rám.
The Chachnamah, an Ancient History of Sind 6
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The coming of Chach son of Seláij to pay respects to the chamberlain Rám.
6.1
Once, when the chamberlain Rám, the Brahman Wazir, had come to his office, a Brahman came to visit him. He (that Brahman) began to praise (him) and speak highly of him in beautiful language. The chamberlain Rám asked him: “O Brahman, whence do you come and for what purpose have you taken the trouble of coming (here).” The Brahman replied “my name is Chach son of Seláij, Brahmin. My brother Jundah and my father live in a temple in a rural place attached to the town of Alór, and pray for Rai Sáhasi and the chamberlain Rám. It occurred to me that I should pay a visit to you; and as eloquence is the origin of good fortune and the solver of difficulties, I thought of showing you my readiness to serve you.’ The chamberlain Rám said, “No doubt, (in the matter of) eloquence and rhetoric, your speech is fluent enough, but are you acquainted with law and morals?” Chach replied: “I have all the four books of the Hindu religion on the tip of my tongue; if Your Excellency be pleased to give the word, I will recite some of those masterpieces of eloquence and rhetoric, on which I have been working so long. I shall thereby (also) show my sincerity and truthfulness.” While they were thus conversing with each other, some despatches were received for consultation and disposal, from the direction of Debal. The chamberlain gave those letters to him. Chach read them out in his very best manner, and wrote a reply in the most chosen words and in an excellent handwriting.
6.2
When Ram acquainted himself with what he had written, he greatly applauded Chach for his consummate wit and cleverness. He extended his patronage to him by respecting him greatly and giving him rich presents. He told him: “I have many important affairs for disposal. As I am the secretary in attendance at the Royal palace and have to do my office work, I am so busy that I have hardly sufficient time to discharge my duties properly. You will therefore be of some assistance to me.” Chach accepted the offer and entered on his duties. In a short time, he became prominent in the correspondence department of the Council. One day, Rai Sáhasi came to the public audience hall, and the great men and chieftains of the city were all present there. Some letters from the district of Siwistan having arrived, the Secretary Rám was called. But he had not yet come to the Council office; so Chach sent word, saying, “I am the Assistant of the Secretary Ram. If anything is to be written, I am ready to write it and to dispose of the work in hand.” King Sahasi called him. Chach read out excellently the letters that had been received, and explained their purport with full details. He then wrote a reply in a sweet style and in a beautiful hand, and submitted the same to the king for perusal and approval. The king had a great liking for excellent penmanship. He went over the letter of Chach, and was much pleased with the style.
6.3
He invested him with a robe of honour and ordered that he be confirmed in his post of Assistant Secretary. When, (shortly afterwards,) the chamberlain Ram met the king in his palace, Rai Sahasi asked him: "This assistant of yours is a very clever fellow; he is an eloquent speaker and a good writer. Whence have you brought him? Treat him kindly." The chamberlain Ram said: "He is a son of Selaij Brahman, and is an honest, straightforward and experienced man." When the chamberlain Ram found the king favourably inclined towards Chach, he asked him to do the work of the Secretary, too, for him and to carry on the whole business of that office during his presence or absence. Thus Chach began to perform important business, and disposed of State affairs and political matters in a business-like manner. Every time that he had occasion to go into the presence of the king, the latter rewarded him and patronised him by giving him a dress of honour or some other present, and advised him to persevere (diligently) in that course of employment, telling him that, by means of such employment, the affairs (of State) would be well transacted and he would be entitled to a higher post. In this fashion, the king went on encouraging him and giving him good hopes by making pleasant promises. (Eventually) as the great God willed it, the life of the chamberlain Ram came to its close and the hand of death tore the collar of his garment.