Muntakhab al-tawarikh 40: Verse. You will never see your fellowmen happy save at the door of death, You will never find a virgin save in the womb of earth.
Muntakhabu-t-tawārīkh (Ranking, Lowe, Haig) 40
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Verse. You will never see your fellowmen happy save at the door of death, You will never find a virgin save in the womb of earth.
40.1
Khusru Khan issued firmans to all the outlying districts and invited the people to side with him, he also bestowed upon Yusuf Sufi Azlbacha the title of Sufi Khan while Ikhtiyaru-d-Din Sanbal was styled Hatim Khan. He also made Kamalu-d-Din Sufi Wazir, and the son of Qara Qumar Amir-i-Hajib; Malik Fakhru-d-Din Juna the son of Ghazi Malik he appointed Akhur Beg, and was especially desirous of gaining his good will, with the object of using his influence to induce Ghazi Malik also, who was one of the notable Amirs of ‘Alau-d-Din and was posted to oppose the Mughuls, to leave the frontiers of Dipalpur and fall into his trap. At that time he put into effect every means he could devise and gave ‘Ainu-l-Mulk Multani for a time the title of ‘Alam Khan. At last having gained over Ghazi Malik, he wrote a letter expressing his sincerity of purpose, and desiring him when the day of battle should arrive to flee from Dihli to his own country, that is Malwa, and return when the danger had passed.
40.2
And of the Amirs, some sided with Khusru Khan out of lust for place and property, but some others were rebellious. When Ghazi Malik heard this startling news his zeal for Islam and for the preservation of the honour of his benefactor was stirred, so that he girded up his loins for vengeance, and sending despatches to the Maliks of the various districts sought their aid in extirpating that ungrateful wretch. Malik Fakhru-d-Din sent secretly a letter to his father conveying his intention to fly from Dihli and asking for post-horses, which in the Hindi tongue are called dak chauki, and for the posting of cavalry escorts at several places along the route. 219. At last one night by the assistance of the son of Bahram Iba the governor of Multan and Uchh he fled from Dihli with a party of horsemen and made his way by forced marches towards Dipalpur. Verse. Seated upon that fleet Buraq He hastened steadfastly with unity of purpose.
40.3
And Ghazi Malik himself previously to this had sent two hundred cavalry into the fort of Sarsuti. When Khusru Khan awoke from his slumber of neglect he recognized that the departure of Malik Fakhru-d Din Juna was a strong proof of the decline of his own power; accordingly he despatched the son of Qarra Qamar, whom he had appointed 'Ariz-i-Mamalik, in pursuit of him. He proceeded as far as the town of Sarsuti, but on his arrival there was obliged to retrace his steps without finding an opportunity of accomplishing his object, and conveyed to Khan tidings regarding the real state of affairs. Ghazi Malik, after the arrival of his son, was demonstrative in his expressions of satisfaction, and gave effect to the aspirations of the Maliks; further by issuing orders for the commencement of the jihad he made amends for the previous delay, and gave full satisfaction to the demands of bravery by marching in the direction of Dihli. Khusru Khan having bestowed upon his brother Khan-i Khanan the canopy and staff of office, despatched said Khan with the other Amirs of this country against Ghazi Malik, who for many years had done yeoman’s service in the various wars with the Mughals, and had everywhere returned victorious and triumphant. But on the other hand Malik Bahram Iba, the Governor of Multan and Uchh, arrived to reinforce Ghazi Malik. The two armies selected as their field of battle a spot near the reservoir of Thanesar.
40.4
At the first onset the breeze of victory blew favourably for the armies of Islam, the standards of the infidels were overthrown, and the adherents of Khusru Khan abandoning their elephants and horses, and ammunition and standards fled precipitately to Dihli. Ghazi Malik with all speed pursued and scattered those ungrateful wretches and reached Dihli in one long march, Khusru Khan having rallied his scattered and panic stricken forces, opened the doors of the treasury and gave his army three and four years’ pay together with large rewards and promises of appointments and governorships; and things being as they were, he brought out from confinement in the haram the remainder of the princes of the family of ‘Alau-d-Din whom he had blinded, and put them to death; then, led by hostile Fate, he marched on from the city in great force and proceeded to the Hauz-i-Khass where he encamped, his camp extending in one line of tents from the Hauz-i-Khass to Indrapath, while Ghazi Malik encamped in the vicinity of the tomb of Sultan Razziya. In the meanwhile ‘Ainu-l-Mulk, in accordance with agreement, having deserted the unsuccessful army of Khusru Khan fled with haste towards Dhar and Ujjain; his defection was a cause of great despondency to the followers of Khusru Khan. On the following day the array of battle was drawn up and the followers of the truth engaged in close conflict with the partisans of infidelity, and utterly vanquished the impious horde.
40.5
At the outset the army of Khusru Khan obtained the mastery, and the army of Ghazi Malik suffered a repulse, but Ghazi Malik planting firmly the foot of resolution like another Rustum came to the rescue, and with three hundred cavalry, men of tried Talar, whom he had kept in concealment in an ambush, utterly discomfited the infidel horde; and Malik Talbagha Nagor, and the son of Qura-Qamar with the other nobles of that ignoble kingdom, in that battle became food for the sword, as such hypocritical knaves should. Khusru Khan brought to bear all temerity and manliness in spite of his unmanly character, and fought bravely till the close of the day, but at last finding he was unable to withstand those lionhearted warriors, he turned his back in flight, and made for Talpath; his canopy and standards and borrowed retinue fell into the hands of Ghazi Malik. Khusru Khan returning from Talpath came to the tomb of Malik Shadi who was an old patron of his, alone and distraught, and hid himself there in despair, but the following day they laid hands upon him, treating him with all possible indignity, and brought him to Ghazi so that he reaped the reward of his infamous and abominable deeds. Verse. The tree thou didst nurture has borne its fruit, Dost thou not see even now its fruit in its bosom, If it has borne thorns it is thou who didst plant them, If it has brought thee silk attire it is of thy own spinning.
40.6
And the following day Ghazi Malik left Indrapath and alighted at Rasuk Sabz. Great and small came out to welcome his coming, and gave vent to expressions of congratulation. The day following he went on to the city of Dihli, where tidings was brought to him that the rascal Khan-i-Khanan had crept into the corner of a garden, where he was lying concealed. Malik Fakhru-d-Din proceeded by order of Ghazi Malik, and having mutilated and disgraced him paraded him about the city where he met with condign punishment. This event took place in the year 720 A.H. (1321. A.D). The duration of Khusru Khan’s rule was four months and a few days. Verse. That which thou doest they will shew thee again, That which thou givest, they will return thee the like.