Muntakhab al-tawarikh 49: Sultan Mahmud Shah ibn-i-Muhammad Shah.
Muntakhabu-t-tawārīkh (Ranking, Lowe, Haig) 49
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Contents
Sultan Mahmud Shah ibn-i-Muhammad Shah.
49.1.1
Who was his youngest son, ascended the throne on the twentieth of Jumadiu-l-Awwal in the aforesaid year relying upon the allegiance of the Amirs, with the title of Sultan Nasiru-d-Din Mahmud, and having bestowed upon Muqarrabu-l-Mulk the title of Muqarrab Khan, he made him his heir apparent, and confirmed to the Amirs their appointments districts and titles; and with a view to restoring order in the important affairs of State, which had suffered in consequence of the dominance of the perverse infidels, he bestowed the title of Sultanu-sh-Sharq upon Khwaja-i-Jahan, and transferred him from Qanauj to Bihar with full powers and uncontrolled authority, and despatched him thither. He proceeded as far as Jajnagar and took possession of it, acquiring a large number of elephants and much valuable booty, and from that time the Rai of Jajnagar used to send elephants annually as presents to Delhi. He also rebuilt the greater number of the forts which the infidels had destroyed, in the districts of Karra, Oudh, Sandila, Dalmau, Bahraich and Tirhut, and bringing troops to the district of Dibalpur to quell the rebellion of Shaikha Khokhar. And in the month of Zi'l Qa'dah of the year 796 Khokhar fought a sharp engagement with Sarang Khan, at a place called Samothlah which is twelve kuroh from Lahore, but was defeated and retired to the hill country of Jammu. Sarang Khan thereupon left Lahore in charge of his brother Adil Khan, and returned towards Dibalpur.
49.1.2
And in the month of Sha'ban of that year Sultan Mahmud leaving Muqarrab Khan as his viceroy in Delhi, and taking with him Sa'adat Khan, who was commonly known as 'Ali Sarandaz Sultani, marched in the direction of Bayana and Gwalior. In of this came to the city of the a mosque built of stone was built in the town of and is standing at the present time, and when the Sultan arrived near Gwalior, Malik 'Alau-ddin Dharwal, and Mallu Khan the brother of Sarang Khan, and Islam Khan son of Malik Raja conspired against Sa'adat Khan, but he, becoming aware of their designs, arrested 'Alau-ddin and Mubarak Khan and had them put to death. Malloo Khan fled to Muqarrab Khan in Dihli. The Sultan having returned to the Capital, encamped at some distance from the city, and Muqarrab Khan fearing his displeasure because he had given asylum to Malloo Khan, entrenched himself and prepared to fight and remained in his fortified position three months, and war arose between Muqarrab Khan and Sa'adat Khan. And in the month of Muharram in the year 797 H. (Nov. 1394 A.D.) Sultan Mahmud was induced by the deceitfulness of certain friends of Muqarrab Khan to leave Sa'adat Khan, to enter the fort and come to terms with Muqarrab Khan, who thus obtained the assistance he needed. The following day Muqarrab Khan and Sa'adat Khan met on the field of battle, and Muqarrab Khan being defeated again entered the fort.
49.1.3
Sa'adat Khan went to Firuzabad, and acting in concert with some of the Amirs summoned Nusrat Khan son of Fath Khan and grandson of Sultan Firuz Shah from Miwat, and set him upon the throne in the month of Rabi'u-l-Awwal of the aforesaid year, with the title of Nasiru-d-Din Nusrat Shah. Nusrat Shah was nothing more than a puppet, for Sa'adat Khan assumed the whole of the authority in state matters, and some slaves of the Firuzi party and some elephant drivers joined with Sultan Nusrat Shah, and by some clever artifice placed him upon an elephant, and without warning fell upon Sa'adat Khan unawares in full force; Sa'adat Khan was paralysed and helpless, and of necessity took to flight and came to Dihli, where he sought the protection of Muqarrab Khan, and was treacherously put to death by him; then the Amirs of Nusrat Shah’s faction, such as Muhammad Muzaffar Vazir, and Shihab Nahir, and Malik Fazlu-llah Balkhi, and the slaves of Firuz Shah’s party, one and all renewed their declaration of allegiance to Sultan Nusrat Shah, and divided the appointments afresh. Sultan Mahmud was known as King in Dihli, while in Firuzabad Nusrat Shah enjoyed that title; and Muqarrab Khan placed the citadel of old Dihli under the command of Bahadur Nahir Mewati, and bestowed upon Malloo Khan the title of Iqbal Khan; and day by day battles were fought between these two kings, who were like the two kings in the game of chess.
49.1.4
Sultan Nusrat Shah retained possession of the country of the Doab, and Sambhal, Panipath, Rohtak, and Jahjar, while a few old ruined forts, such as Dihli and Siri and the rest, remained in the hands of Sultan Mahmud, and from that time forward this proverb became a common expression: The rule of the Lord of the world (Khudawand-i ’Alam) is from Dihli to Palam. And all over Hindustan there arose various parties, each with its own Malik. Verse. Say, either you rule in the city, or let me rule, For the affairs of the state go to ruin between two rulers. The affairs of the kingdom continued in this state for a space of three years; at one time the Dihli party got the better of the Firuzabad party, and at another time the positions were reversed. Verse. Like the kite which is six months female and six months male. And in the year 798 H. (1395 A.D.) many battles took place between the Masnad-i-‘Ali, Khizr Khan, the Amir of Multan, and Sarang Khan the ruler of Dipalpur, and, eventually, owing to the treachery of certain of the slaves of Malik Marwan, who was the tutor of Malik Suleiman the father of Khizr Khan, and in consequence of their throwing in their lot with Sarang Khan the governor of Dipalpur, Multan passed from the possession of Khizr Khan to that of Sarang Khan, and his party began to grow weaker and weaker every day.
49.1.5
And in the year 799 H. (1396 A.D.) Sarang Khan having overcome Ghalib Khan the governor of Samana, and Tatar Khan the Wali of Panipath, gained possession of the country as far as the outskirts of Dihli. Sultan Nusrat Shah sent Malik Ilys a slave of the Firuz Shahi party with elephants and an army to reinforce Tatar Khan. He accordingly drove Sarang Khan out of Samana and delivered it to Ghalib Khan.
49.1.6
And in the month of Muharram 800 H. (1397 A.D.) a severe engagement took place between the two parties in the neighbourhood of the village of Kotla; Sarang Khan was defeated and fled towards Multan, and Tatar Khan proceeded to the frontier of Tilaundi, and sending Kamalu-d-Din Mubin in pursuit of Sarang Khan, returned. And in the month of Rabi‘u-l-Awwal in the year already mentioned, Mirza Pir Muhammad, grandson of the great Amir Timur Gurgan King of Sintasan and Mawara an-Nahr, had crossed the river Indus, and was besieging the fortress of Uchh. ‘Ali Malik, Sarang Khan's lieutenant, fought and held the fort for a month, and when Malik Taju-d-Din Bakhtyar arrived at the fort of Uchh with a thousand cavalry given him by Sarang Khan, Mirza Pir Muhammad left Uchh, and taking Malik Taju-d-Din Bakhtyar and his thousand sowars unawares in their position on the banks of the river Biah, attacked them. The greater number of Malik Taju-d-Din’s force fell by the sword, while those who escaped the sword were drowned in the floods of destruction, and Mirza Pir Muhammad after gaining this victory pursued them with all speed, and invested the fortress of Multan. Sarang Khan held out against him for six months engaging him frequently, but at last begged for quarter, and had an interview with the Mirza, who took up his station in Multan pending the arrival of the great Timur.
49.1.7
And in the month of Shawwāl in the aforesaid year Iqbāl Khān, who is better known as Malloo, swore many oaths of allegiance to Sultān Nasrat Shāh, whom he deported to the fortress of Jahān-numā, taking him away with elephants and an armed force; and Sultān Mahmūd and Muqarrab Khān and Bahādur Nāhir shut themselves up in old Dihlī. On the third day from this Iqbāl Khān made a sudden attack in strong force upon Nusrat Shāh hoping to take him by surprise; Nusrat Shāh fled from Jahān-numā and came to Fīrūzābād, and leaving there crossed the Jamna and went to join Tātār Khān his Vazīr at Pānīpath. The whole of the army and elephants of Nusrat Shāh fell into the hands of the astute Iqbāl Khān, and for two whole months daily battles were fought between Muqarrab Khān and Iqbāl Khān, until by the intervention of certain Amīrs peace was established between these two leaders; but after a few days Iqbāl Khān proceeded against Muqarrab Khān, and without warning suddenly surrounded him and besieged him; and after giving him assurances of safety raised him to the dignity of martyrdom, and getting Sultān Mahmūd into his power made a puppet of him and took the management of the state into his own hands. Then in the month of Zū Qa'dah of the aforesaid year Iqbāl Khān wrested Pānīpath by force from the followers of Tātār Khān, and seized all his baggage and his elephants and army.
49.1.8
Tātār Khān previously to this expedition of Iqbāl Khān, had left Pānīpath with the intention of attempting to reduce Dihlī but found himself quite unequal to the task, and throwing his country to the winds left Dihlī and went to Gujrāt with a large following to join his father. Iqbāl Khān coming to Dihlī bestowed upon Malik Nasīru-l-Mulk, a relation of Tātār Khān who had joined him, the title of 'Ādil Khān, and placed under his control the district of the Doāb. And in the month of Safar of the year 801 H. (1398 A.D.) Amīr Timur the Great attacked the town of Tulamba, and taking that place, put to the sword the whole of the prisoners of the army of Sarang Khan whom Mirza Pir Muhammad had kept in confinement; proceeding thence by continuous marches he also took the fort of Bhat, and having taken prisoner Rai Jaljin Jihad put him to death together with the garrison and inhabitants of the fort.
49.2.1
Leaving there and taking Sarsuti, he put to death crowds of fugitives from Dipalpur and Ajudhan and Sirsa, who were helplessly fleeing in all directions in terror of their lives, and taking large numbers of them prisoners he took them along with him, and covering great distances he crossed the river Jumna, and entered the Doab, and sweeping the greater part of the country with the bitter whirlwind of rapine and pillage, camped on the banks of the river Jamna opposite the town of Luni not far from Dihli; and at this camp he put to the sword about fifty-thousand prisoners who had fallen into the hands of his soldiery before reaching the river Ganges; and some of the ecclesiastical dignitaries of his army also, who had not the slightest acquaintance with the sword, taking all these Hindustani Muslims for Hindus, in their desire for the reward of holy war, sent many of them with their own hands into the next world. Then in the month of Jamadiu-l-Awwal 801 H. the great Timur crossed the Jamna and encamped at Firuzabad and the next day encamped above the Hauz-i-Khass. Iqbal Khan having got ready a force of men and elephants, came out against him and engaged his troops, but was defeated in the first engagement, and in spite of all their efforts they were not able to withdraw even a portion of the elephants into the city, so complete was the rout.
49.2.2
And in this defeat many were killed, and when the glittering soldiers of the army of the night had routed the troops of the day, Iqbal Khan and Sultan Mahmud leaving their families and friends in the bonds of shame and disgrace, took flight. Sultan Mahmud fled straight to Gujarat, and Iqbal Khan crossing the Jamna escaped to the town of Baran. On the following day the Great Timur gave quarter to the inhabitants of Dihli, receiving from them much valuable property and many presents as the price of quarter. In the meantime however, the people of the city killed some of the soldiers, accordingly on the fourth day he ordered all the inhabitants to be made prisoners, and took them all off towards Transoxiana, eventually Shaikh Ahmad Khattu whose tomb is well known at Sarkhez in Gujarat near to Ahmadabad, went along with the army and had an interview with the Great Timur, and made apparent to him his condition as a Darvesh, and his surpassing knowledge, moreover he argued with and confuted over and over again the learned doctors who were with the Transoxiana force, and begged for the prisoners’ lives. The Great Timur conceived such a strong liking for him that he acceded to his request and liberated all the prisoners.
49.2.3
This signal service of the Shaikh remained ever as a debt upon the people of Hindustan; and a full detail of this circumstance is given at length in the Maqamat of the Shaikh. A few days after this victory Khizr Khan and Bahadur Nahir Miwati, who had taken alarm and fled to the hill country of Miwat, came in and paid their respects to the Great Timur; orders were issued to make all of their party prisoners, with the exception of Khizr Khan, who had apparently done some former good service which saved him. After this he raised the banner of return and seized the country at the foot of the Siwalik hills, and greatly shook that hill country as it were with an earthquake, ere he reached Lahor. For the date of this victory they assigned the two words (Rakha, affluence, prosperity) and (Khar, a thorn); and Shaikha Khukhar also, who had formerly served the Amir and had taken Lahor by fraud from Sarang Khan, fell into his hands. He accordingly imprisoned him together with his wife and family, and gave orders to sack Lahor and take the inhabitants prisoners. Then having made over Dipalpur and Multan to Khizr Khan he and said to him: "I have taken Dihli and have made a present of it to you." Leaving Lahor he proceeded by uninterrupted marches by way of Kabul to his capital Samarqand, while Khizr Khan went to his own territory (jagir).
49.2.4
At this time such a famine and pestilence fell upon Dihli that the city was utterly ruined, and those of the inhabitants who were left died, while for two whole months not a bird moved a wing at Dihli. In this interval Sultan Nusrat Shah, who after his defeat by Iqbal Khan had gone into the Doab, seeing that he had an open field, went first to Mirath and thence to Firuzabad, and fortified the city of Dihli. 'Adil Khan and the other folk who had escaped from the hands of the Mughals coming out of the various holes and corners where they had been hiding, gathered round him; when he had got together this company he nominated Shihab Khan to proceed to Baran against Iqbal Khan. Whilst he was on the way, a body of Hindus attacked Shihab Khan suddenly by night, and raised him to the dignity of martyrdom. Iqbal Khan with great energy and promptitude obtained possession of his elephants and army, so that from day to day his power increased, while the affairs of Nusrat became more and more entangled. Iqbal Khan leaving Baran started in the direction of Dihli, and Nusrat Shah leaving Firuzabad made for Mewat where he died, and the four quarters of Hindustan came under the dominion of maliks of the various tribes.
49.2.5
Then in the year 802 H. (1399 A.D.) Iqbal Khan marched against Shams Khan Auhadi the ruler of Baiana, and the hostile forces met in the vicinity of Nuh and Jalesar; fortune favoured Iqbal Khan and Shams Khan proceeded to Baiana. Iqbal Khan led his army towards Kaithar and exacted contributions of money and services from Rai Harsingh. And in this same year Khwaja-i Jahan was received into the mercy of God in Jaunpur. Quatrain. How long wilt thou say “Who has drunk the cup of pleasure?” How long wilt thou say “Who has gained the palm of fortune?” What avail all those idle tales, for we must depart, What profit in all those empty stories, since death must come. And Malik Mubarak Qaranfal, having assumed the title of Mubarak Shah, took his place. And in Jamada-l-Awwal in the year 803 H. (1400 A.D.) Shams Khan of Baiana and Mubarak Khan son of Bahadur Nahir had an interview with Iqbal Khan, who taking them with him fought a battle near Baitali on the banks of the Blackwater, which is known as the Kalapani, with Rai Sir the ruler of that district, and overcame him, and pursued the infidels as far as the confines of Itawa; and on his arrival at Qanauj, Sultanu-sh-Sharq Mubarak Shah came up from Jaunpur and sat down over against him on the other bank of the river Ganges, but inasmuch as neither of them could effect a crossing, they each returned to their own country without doing anything. As he returned, Iqbal Khan treacherously put to death Shams Khan and Mubarak Khan.
49.2.6
In this same year Turkbacha Sultani, the son-in-law of Ghalib Khan of Samana, collected a large army, and on the ninth of Rajab of this year fought a battle with Khizr Khan near Ajudhan, and being defeated went to the town of Bhibhar, where Ghalib Khan in concert with the other Amirs put him to death. And in the year 804 H. (1401 A.D.) Sultan Mahmud ibn Muhammad arrived at Dihli from Dhar, and although Iqbal Khan went out to receive him, and caused him to alight at the Jahan Numa palace with all expressions of service and manifestations of respect, still, since Iqbal Khan was in possession of all the paraphernalia of royalty, Sultan Mahmud became very jealous of him, and took him with him towards Qanauj. And in this year Maliku-sh Sharq Mubarak Shah died, and his younger brother Sultan Ibrahim succeeded him, and came out to fight with Sultan Mahmud and Iqbal Khan. Sultan Mahmud before engaging in conflict left the army of Iqbal Khan under pretence of a hunting expedition, and had an interview with Sultan Ibrahim who treated him with scant ceremony. Sultan Mahmud accordingly removed Shahzada Fath Khan of Herat, who was holding Qanauj on behalf of Mubarak Shah, and took that fortress under his own control. The populace of Qanauj, both people and soldiery, joined Sultan Mahmud, and Sultan Ibrahim returned to Jaunpur, while Iqbal Khan retraced his steps towards Dihli, so that Sultan Mahmud was left in undisputed and contented possession of Qanauj.
49.2.7
And in the year 805 H. (1402 A.D.) Iqbal Khan made an attack upon the country round the fortress of Gwaliar, which Rai Harsingh had taken by treachery from the Muslims during the invasion of Timur, and wresting it from the possession of Bairam Dev the son of Harsingh, took it into his own control. And in the year 806 H. (1403 A.D.) Tatar Khan the son of Zafar Khan, forgetting his filial duty, took his father prisoner by treachery and sent him to Asawal, assuming to himself the title of Sultan Nasiru-d Din Muhammad Shah, and set out at the head of a large army with the intention of attempting to reduce Dihli. While he was on the way his uncle Shams Khan administered poison to him and removed him, then he released Zafar Khan and the whole army joined him.
49.3.1
A parricide is not fitted to be a king, And even if he is fitted he will not last for more than six months. And in the year 807 H. (1404 A.D.) Iqbal Khan marched towards Gwaliar and Etawa, the Rais of which districts all took refuge within the fortress of Etawa, and stood siege for four months; at last they made overtures for peace, sending four elephants and other presents of suitable nature. Iqbal Khan leaving there came to Qanauj, and fought with Sultan Mahmud, but was unable to effect his purpose owing to the strength of the fortifications, so returned to Dihli without accomplishing his object.
49.3.2
And in the Muharram of the year 808 H. (1405 A.D.) he marched for Samana, and from thence came to Rūpar, and by stratagem laid hands upon Bahram Khan Turkbacha, who had been an antagonist of Sarang Khan, and flayed his head. Leaving Rūpar he proceeded towards Multan, intending to fight with Khizr Khan, and at Talwandi taking with him Rai Kamalu-d-Din Main and the other Zamindars, on the nineteenth of the month of Jamadiu-l-Awwal in the abovementioned year, he engaged in battle with Khizr Khan in the neighbourhood of Ajudhan, on the banks of a tributary (of the Satlaj) and since ill fortune attended Iqbal Khan, he was defeated in the very first engagement, and his horse being wounded could not bear him off the field, so that the soldiers of Khan pursued him, and cutting off his head sent it to Fathpur, one of the dependencies of Multan. And in the month of Jumada-l-Awwal of this year Sultan Mahmud came from Qanauj at the invitation of the Amirs of Dihli, and once more sat upon the throne of Dihli, and conferred appointments upon the Amirs, and sent the family of Mubarak Khan to Kol. And in the month of Jumada-l-Awwal of the year 809 H. (1406 A.D.) Sultan Mahmud marched with a force towards Qanauj, and Sultan Ibrahim came out thence and crossed the Ganges, but they both turned back without fighting.
49.3.3
Sultan Ibrahim went towards Jaunpur, and Sultan Mahmud towards Dihli, but seeing that the Amirs of Sultan Mahmud's army one after the other left for their own districts as they came to them in the march, Sultan Ibrahim turned back and besieged Qanauj; Malik Mahmud Tarmati, who was holding Qanauj for Sultan Mahmud, kept Sultan Ibrahim engaged in fighting for four months, but when he saw that no reinforcements were arriving from any quarter, he was forced to sue for peace, and surrendered Qanauj to Sultan Ibrahim. Sultan Ibrahim passed the rainy season at Qanauj, and then having made over that district to Ikhtiyar Khan the grandson of Malik Daulat Yar of Kanpila, started to reduce Dihli.
49.3.4
And in the year 810 H. (1407 A.D.) Nusrat Khan Karkandaz, and Tatar Khan the son of Sarang Malik Marhaba the slave of Iqbal Khan, turned against Sultan Mahmud and joined Sultan Ibrahim, and Asad Khan Lodi fortified himself in Sambhal. The following day Sultan Ibrahim reduced the fortress of Sambhal and gave it to Tatar Khan: then crossing the Ganges he encamped on the banks of the Jamna near the fort of Kicha in the vicinity of Dihli, where he learned that Zafar Khan had taken the district of Dhar and was making his way to Jaunpur; accordingly leaving Malik Marhaba in Baran, he reached Jaunpur by continuous marches; Sultan Mahmud pursued him and having killed Malik Marhaba in battle, and taking Sambhal without a fight, left there Asad Khan after his usual custom. Tatar Khan marched to Qanauj and the Sultan came to Dihli. And in this year Khizr Khan came with a large force and drove Daulat Khan out of Samana. The Amirs of that district all sought an interview with him, and the whole country as far as to the outskirts of Dihli fell into his hands; only Rohtak and the Doab remained in the possession of Sultan Mahmud.
49.3.5
And in the year 811 H. (1408 A.D.) Sultan Mahmud proceeding to Hissar Firuza took it from Qiwam Khan to whom Khizr Khan had given it, and having taken possession of it, on arriving at the village of Rata turned back towards Dihli: Khizr Khan then came by way of Rohtak with a large army from Fathpur to oppose Sultan Mahmud, and laid siege to Dihli, but was not able to maintain the siege by reason of the severe famine which prevailed in Dihli, then having taken possession of the Doab returned to Fathpur. And in the year 812 H. (1409 A.D.) Bairam Khan Turkbacha who after the death of Bairam Khan Turkbacha had become master of Samana, and had been defeated in a battle with Daulat Khan, and again revolting against Khizr Khan had had a second interview with Daulat Khan, now offered his services to Khizr Khan, and received a confirmation of the grant of the districts formerly held by him in fief. And in the year 813 H. (1410 A.D.) besieged the fortress of Rohtak for six months, and after reducing it proceeded to Fathpur. But this year Sultan Mahmud made an expedition to Kaithal at the capital Dihli, at the
49.3.6
In the year 814 H. (1411 A.D.) Khizr Khan came to Narnaul and Miwat and ravaged that country, and blockading Sultan Mahmud in the fortress of Siri, which is part of Dihli, and Ikhtiyar Khan in Firozabad, and fighting several fierce battles, was prevented from maintaining the siege by reason of the dearness of grain, and returned to Fathpur by way of Panipat. And in the year 815 H. (1412 A.D.) Sultan Mahmud departed from this world, and the kingdom passed from the family of Firuz Shah. The duration of his reign, full as it was of turmoil and vicissitudes, was twenty years and two months, during which Sultan Mahmud had had only the name of sovereignty. Verse. Who is there in this long-enduring world Who can say “Mine is the kingdom” save the Almighty? Verse. A head they exalt to a lofty position They later strangle its neck in a noose. Save the blood of kings there is nought in this bowl, Save the dust of lovers there is nought in this desert. Of the poets of the reign of Sultan Mahmud is Qazi Zahir Dihlavi, who has left a Diwan (anthology) full of qasidahs in eulogy (of Mahmud) of which this is one:
49.3.7
Heir to the mighty monarchy, Sultan Mahmud, Who succeeded his father and grandfather in the sovereignty of the world; He removed Dabaran from the sky to serve as his signet, While Taurus complained saying I have but this one eye left. By the first strain of his bow-string he has wakened the Lion, And after that he has stretched him out in sleep with the deep-piercing arrow. The whole world boasts of full satiation at the board of thy favour, Save only the lute which complains that its belly is empty. Oh thou whose world-conquering sword flashes in the darkness of infidelity like to the lightning flashing through the darkness of night, Although the heaven has made thine enemies intoxicated like the eyes of the beloved idols for some time, still at last it has overthrown them. It is envy of thy generous hand which throws the ocean into tumult, for if it be not so, the ocean is never so disturbed by the winds of heaven. The following is also by the same author:
49.3.8
Thou art a monarch before whom the heavens bow in adoration, Thou art a King in whose reign time itself exults. Qiblah of the nation, and mainstay of kingdoms and religion, Mahmud Whom the assemblies of Sultan have chosen as their Imam. The Qazi of the heavens comes out on foot to receive him When the Governor of his unerring judgment sends the summons. He keeps constant watch lest sedition should make a night assault, Thy vigilance stands with a drawn sword in its hand while the people sleep (in safety). In order that thy enemy may not enjoy the sweet breezes of the garden of thy favour The heavens have afflicted him with fever and headache in addition to catarrh. The heavens have apportioned every arrow of thine to one of the various families, It were not possible to allot the arrows in any better way than this. The following is also his: My love has gone outside, do thou my life also go outside, For if thou art not outside with my love, thou wilt be outside the pale of love. Specially that now, in order to uproot the infidels and rebels, The loyal standards have gone out clothed in good fortune. Shah Mahmud, he who when he sallied forth against the infidels, Thou would’st say ‘Isa has come forth to slay Dajjal. Thy reign has cast sedition into the bondage of annihilation. I said to the heavens, Beware! this is a prisoner of the Sultan, free him not! This is also his:
49.4.1
The month of Dai has arrived, and the air has in consequence become so cold
That nothing save the icy breeze can move from its place.
The earth is cold and frost bound, the air is even colder than the earth,
In very truth the air is chill with the weariness of age.
In the garden the fire of the tulip and Gulnar have died down,
From the cold the (graceful) trees of the garden have become mere sticks.
The water is hard frozen from the cold, and says with petulance,
I will break if anyone places his foot upon my head.
No single bud comes out from its resting place in the heart of the tree, although it wears upon its cypress-like body a cap and mantle.
The bird has ceased its song when it saw the havoc wrought by autumn,
When a general pillage is going on, lamentation is futile.
Seek not for leaves and seed-bearing fruit in the garden, for to-day
The leaves have been scattered by the wind, the seeds remain hidden beneath the earth.
The morning breeze draws every breath like a deep drawn sigh,
Seeing that it has cast to the winds so beauteous a being as the rose.
So far has the rose gone that should you search the East and the West,
You will not find it save in the assembly of the King of the World,
Shah Mahmud from the splendour of whose assemblies, there is eternal spring in the month of Dai, and the world is like Paradise.
He who when he draws up his array, and orders it for battle, The lines of the enemies at the very sight of him pale with terror.
49.4.2
His heart is the rising place of sacred knowledge, and he has knowledge, Because he fathoms the secrets of Fate with a glance.
Oh thou who in the rules of Government art an example to vazirs, The vazirs have issued no order save on the authority of thy judgment.
If it be not the intention of the wind to write a memorial of thy virtues Why does it scatter the leaves of the rose in the garden, 281.
The sun in comparison with thy (brilliant) judgment looks like Suha Although Suha cannot be seen in the bright light of the Sun.
Thou slayest thine enemies, and Time confesses thy excellence; Thou art the refuge of the people, and the evil doers take shelter under thy wing
The cupbearer of thy feast bears a cup of joy in his hand, The herald of thy fame has the whole world beneath his feet.
The banquet of Truth cannot be spread save in praise of thee Although the whole feast terminates with the distribution of sweetmeats.
Hail Khusru! even should I remain excluded from attendance upon thee I shall not take one moment’s rest from praising and eulogising thee
My duty is thy service, since were I to refrain from that I have no other occupation save singing thy praises Thou The wind draws lines across the stream like the scribe as he drives his pen,
The eye of the narcissus points to the sky like the eye of the astronomer as he prepares his tables.
The parrots flaunt in green attire, the magpie wears white garments,
49.4.3
The crow is devoid of any such honourable vestments, wearing as it does a black blanket.
You would say that the narcissus has produced a transcript of these people (umam) who sleep below the dust Look! it has for each alif two nuns.
The sumbul and narcissus are copies of the locks and eyes of the fair ones,
Of these two, one falls prostrate stricken with blackness, the other comes intoxicated (with love).
Tho water-lily has blossomed by the blast of the breeze of the garden.
In truth, he who has a resigned heart rejoices even when misfortune befalls him.
You would say that And in truth after Qazi Zahir no poet arose in Hindustan whose poetry repaid the trouble of reading. After the death of Sultan Mahmud the great Amirs of Hindustan as for instance Mubariz Khan and Malik Idris who was the ruler of Rohtak, quarrelled with Khizr Khan and were disposed to make common cause with Daulat Khan, Khizr Khan accordingly stood fast in Fathpur and made no expeditions to any country.
49.4.4
In Muharram of the year 816 H. (1413 A.D.) Daulat Khan having gone towards Kaithar on a hunting expedition and having brought the Rais of that district into his toils, went to Batauh, and Mahabat Khan the Wali of Badaon came thither and joined him. And in this year Sultan Ibrahim besieged Qadir Khan the son of Mahmud Khan in Kalpi, and Daulat Khan being very short handed, ignored him, and omitted to send reinforcements to either of these places, and Khizr Khan in Zi-l-qa'da of this year came to the fortress of Firozabad, the Amirs of which district came into him, and Malik Idris was besieged in Rohtak. Khizr Khan marched by that route to Miwat and taking with him Jalal Khan Miwati the brother’s son of Bahadur Nahir, conveyed him to Sambal which place he pillaged, and in Hijjah of that same year he encamped before the gates of Dihli with the intention of taking it; Daulat Khan held out for four months, but at last was compelled by the want of agreement with Malik Lona and the other supporters of Khizr Khan to sue for peace, humbly and earnestly. He had an interview with Khizr Khan who threw him into prison, and delivered him to Qiwam Khan who conveyed him to the fortress of Firoza and slew him. This happened in the year 816 H. (1414 A.D.) on the seventeenth of Rabi'u-l-Awwal.
Everyone whom the world favours, she at last spills his blood, What can be the condition of that child, whose mother is his enemy.
Linked texts (1)
- Muntakhab al-tawārīkh — ʿAbd al-Qādir Badāʾūnī 1590, Persian