The Chachnāma (Fatḥnāma-yi Sind) 6.1

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.