Riyaz al-salatin 27: AN ACCOUNT OF THE DOMINATION OF CERTAIN HINDU RAIS OVER THE KINGDOM OF BENGAL, AND OF THE CAUSE OF THE INTRODUCTION OF IDOL-WORSHIP IN HINDUSTAN.
The Riyazu-s-salatin (Abdus Salam) 27
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AN ACCOUNT OF THE DOMINATION OF CERTAIN HINDU RAIS OVER THE KINGDOM OF BENGAL, AND OF THE CAUSE OF THE INTRODUCTION OF IDOL-WORSHIP IN HINDUSTAN.
27.1
Be it not hidden that, in ancient times, the Rais of the Kingdom of Bengal (Bangalah) were powerful, and of high rank and dignity, and did not owe allegiance to the Maharajah of Hindustan, who ruled over the throne at Delhi. For instance, Suraj, who was a powerful Rajah, subjugated the Kingdom of Dakhin (Dakin). At that time, his deputies commenced grasping and usurping ; and in the Kingdom of Hindustan, idol-worship dates from his time. It is said that, in the beginning, Hind, having seen and heard from his father Ham, son of Noah (peace be on him ! ) devoted himself to the worship of God ; and that his children also, in the same manner, worshipped God, until, in the time of Rai Maharaj, a person coming from Persia perverted the people of Hindustan to sun-worship. In efflux of time, some became star-worshippers, and others fire-worshippers. In the time of Rai Suraj, a Brahmin, coming from the mountains of Jharkand, entered his service, and taught the Hindus idol-worship, and preached that everyone preparing a gold or silver or stone image of his father and grandfather, should devote himself to its worship ; and this practice became more common than other practices. And at the present day in the religious practice of Hindus, the worship of idols, and of the sun, and of fire is very common.
27.2
Some say that fire-worship was introduced by Ibrahim Zardasht in the time of Gashtasp, Emperor of Persia, and spread to Kabul and Sistan and throughout the empire of Persia, and that, in process of time, the kingdom of Bengal became subject to the Rais of Hindustan, and the Rais of Bengal paid revenue and sundry tributes. After this, Shangaldip, emerging from the environs of Koch, became victorious over Kedar, and founded the city of Gaur, and made it the seat of government, and for a period ruled over the Kingdom of Bengal and the whole empire of Hindustan. When Shangaldip collected four thousand elephants, one lak cavalry, and four laks of infantry, the breeze of insolence wafted in the recesses of his brain, and he ceased to pay tribute to the Emperors of Persia, as was hitherto the practice with the Rais of Hindustan. And when Afrasiab deputed some one to demand the tribute, he rebuked and insulted him. Afrasiab flew into rage, and despatched his General, Piran-visah, with fifty thousand Mongols, thirsty for blood. In the mountains of Koch, near the limits of Ghoraghat, in Bengal, an engagement took place; for two days and nights the fighting continued. Although the Mongols displayed deeds of bravery, and put to the sword fifty thousand of the enemy, yet owing to the overwhelming numbers of the Indian army, they could effect nothing.
27.3
The Mongols also lost eighteen thousand of their numbers, and on the third day, seeing symptoms of defeat on the forehead of their condition, they retreated. And as the Indian army was victorious, and the Mongol's country was distant, the Mongols gave up fighting, and retiring into the mountains, secured a strong place, where they entrenched themselves, and sent to Afrasiab an account narrating the state of things. At that time, Afrasiab was in the town of Gangdozh, which is situate midway between Khata and China, and is distant a month's journey on the other side from Khanbaligh. On the simple receipt of the account, and being apprised of the state of things, he marched swiftly to the aid of the Mongols, with one lak chosen cavalry. And at a time, when Shangal, summoning together the Rais of the surrounding countries, was pressing the siege hard against Piran, and was about to put all to the sword, he (Afrasiab) attacked him on the way. The Hindus, on the first onslaught, losing heart and feeling paralysed, dispersed, like the constellation of the bear. Piran, relieved from the anxiety of the siege, paid his obeisance to Afrasiab. Afrasiab threw down on the soil of annihilation as many of the Hindu army as he could. And Shangal with the remnants being vanquished, retreated to the town of Lakhnauti, and owing to the pursuit of Afrasiab, could not prolong his stay at Lakhnauti more than a day, and took refuge in the hills of Tirhut.
27.4
And the Mongols, ravaging the Kingdom of Bengal, spared no trace of fertility. And when Afrasiab planned an expedition towards the hills of Tirhut, Shangal begged forgiveness for his misbehaviour through wise envoys, and presented himself before Afrasiab with a sword and a winding-sheet, and prayed for leave to go to the country of Turan. Afrasiab, being pleased, bestowed the Kingdom of Bengal and the whole empire of Hindustan on Shangal's son, and carried Shangal in his company, and in the battle of Hamawaran Shangal was killed at the hands of Rustam. And in the reign of Rajah Jaichand, owing to whose neglect, decay had overtaken several provinces of Hindustan, and for years Hindustan did not see its normal state, ruin was visible over the whole empire of India. At that time, certain Rajahs of Bengal, finding an opportunity, and grasping at domination, became independent. And when Fur (Porus), who was a relation of the Rajah of Kumayun, emerged, he first subjugated the province of Kumayun, and then capturing in battle Rajah Dahlu, brother of Jaichand, who had founded Dehli, subjugated Kanuj, and after this he marched with his force towards Bengal, and brought it to his subjection, up to the confines of the sea. And this Porus is he, who was killed at the hands of Alexander.
27.5
After this, Rajah Madiw Rathor, like whom there had been few such powerful Rajahs in Hindustan, marching with his forces, conquered the Kingdom of Lakhnauti, and allotted it to his nephews, and after introducing perfect methods of government, returned to Kanauj with immense booty. And, in efflux of time, the Rajahs of Bengal again asserting independence, continued to rule peacefully. Inasmuch as the object of the author is to chronicle the history of the Musalman sovereigns, therefore, not busying himself with the details of the affairs of the Hindu Rais, he reins back the graceful steed of the black pen of writing from striding this valley, and gives it permission to canter towards relating and reciting the details of the history of the Muhammadan rulers and sovereigns.