Muntakhab al-tawarikh 78.1
Muntakhabu-t-tawārīkh (Ranking, Lowe, Haig) 78.1
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78.1.1
"From the bowl of Fortune, who has ever drunk a draught, To whom its drink has not been more deadly than poison? How should the world make thee secure from vicissitudes, When itself is not secure from vicissitudes? Heaven is a thief breaking into the tent of life, Alas! its form is not bending for naught! Seek not repose, since for any one beneath the sky, The means for attaining this has never been collected. Only look at the blue garment of the sky, and learn, That this sphere can be nothing but a house of mourning. Put up with wounding, for to us from Fate Wounds have become our portion, but not the antidote. not to the deceptions of the world revolution them!), and in his no of God, and the Word of the Prophet to see a certain ascetic Dervish, and asked the meaning of the Qur’an, [iii 25]: "Thou exaltest whom thou wilt, and thou humblest whom thou wilt.” And, since the Dervish had not read a commentary, he gave no answer. Then the Khán Khánán himself said, “Thou exaltest whom thou wilt”, namely by means of contentment, “thou humblest whom thou wilt”, by continued craving. Moreover Friday’s prayers and attendance at the mosque were never neglected by him. He was, however, somewhat touchy on the subject of precedence, as Muhammad Amin Khatib once said to the writer, “With regard to the titles of his Highness, you will do well to give him ever so many more than to other people.”
78.1.2
And in the same year Miyán Hátim Sambhali passed from the world, and a blow fell on religion for [says the Arabic proverb] “The death of the learned is a fissure in religion.” And they found the date in the words, “He is with the mighty King.”
78.1.3
On the 12th of Rajab-ul-murajjab in this year Báz Bahádur, son of Sajáwal Khán, governor of Málwah, advanced with elephants and numerous followers within 7 cosses of Sárangpur to oppose Adham Khán, Pír Muhammad Khán, and the other renowned Amírs. He gave battle and was defeated, and his retinue, and servants, and wives, were all taken prisoners. On the day of the victory, the two captains remained on the spot, and had the captives brought before them, and troop after troop of them put to death, so that their blood flowed river upon river; and Pír Muhammad Khán with a smile on his face, said this of Judgment-day, I said to my friend Mihr ‘Ali Khan Beg Sildoz, “Though the rebels have met with their deserts, yet it is not at all in accordance with the Sacred Law to kill and imprison their wives and children.” Then he, on account of the pain offered to his religious feelings and conscience, spoke to Pir Muhammad Khan to the same effect. He replied “In one single night all these captives have been taken, what can be done with them!” And the same night these plundering marauders, having stowed away their Muhammadan captives, consisting of the wives of Shaikhs, and Sayyids, and learned men, and nobles, in their boxes and saddle-bags, brought them to Ujjain and other districts. And the Sayyids, and Shaikhs of that place came out to meet him with their Qur’ans in their hands, but Pir Muhammad Khan put them all to death, and burnt them:—
78.1.4
“Having torn off the binding of the Qur’an, And made its leather into a kettledrum, It is very clear from this, that he is An enemy of the Prophet.” All that had been the talk, with respect to the cruelty, insolence, and severity of Pir Muhammad Khan was shown to be only too true. And that, which former generations have said, was verified, viz., He who seeks learning in scholastic theology, is an infidel: and the Doctors of scholastic theology are infidels, to whatever sect they belong; we flee to God for refuge—from a knowledge which doth not profit, from prayer that is not heard, from a heart that is not humble, and a belly that is not satisfied. Adham Khan sent the whole account of the victory to the Court, with some elephants under the escort of Sadiq Muhammad Khan. But most of the elephants, and of the ladies of the haram, and the dancing-girls, and nautch-girls, belonging to Baz Bahadur, and all his precious things he kept for himself. On this account the Emperor on the 1st of Sha'ban in the year nine hundred and sixty-eight (968) set out from Agra, and came to Sarangpur, and having taken possession of the spoil, and arranged the affairs of that state, on the 29th of Ramzan he came back to the foot of the throne.
78.1.5
In this year the Khan Zaman, with the help of Ibrahim Khan Uzbek, and Majnun Khan Qaqshal, and Shahim Khan Jalair, fought against Sher Khan, son of ‘Adali, who had succeeded to his father at Chunhar, and was come to Jounpur with a considerable force. The Khan Zaman defeated him, and gained a signal victory. This is the second victory that was gained at Jounpur. (On the 17th of Zi-l-hijjah of this year the Emperor came to A'gra.) And towards the end of this year, on account of the suspected insubordination of the Khan Zaman, the Emperor honoured Karah with his presence, passing by way of Kalpi, and (P. 49) accepting the hospitality of ‘Abd-ullah Khan Uzbek the governor of that place. Then the Khan Zaman and Bahadur Khan came quickly from Jounpur with every appearance of good will, and paid their respects to the Emperor, bringing with them elephants, and valuable presents, by way of compliment: then they, being honoured with a gift of horses, and dresses of honour, were dismissed to their fiefs. And Peace is the best gives the date of that event, with one unit too much: “The Messenger of prosperity in this ancient world Uttered the shout that: Peace is the best.” On the 17th of Zi-l-hijjah of this year [A. H. 968], the Emperor returned to A'gra. And in this same year his reverence the Doctor Maulana Sa‘id, the profound Professor of the age, came from Transoxiana; but, on account of want of appreciation on the part of his cotemporaries, he could not remain in Hindustan: —
78.1.6
“Say O Huma, never cast thy glorious shadow on a land Where the parrot is less esteemed than the kite.” And His Highness the Qazi Abu-l-Ma‘ali, the son-in-law of His Highness the Prince of Bukhara, also, who was a master-builder in legal science, and a second glory of the Imams, and in the Derwish order was one whose words and direction were followed, and who after paying the 5 customary prayers, used to make a practice of reading the Qur’an aloud, came; and the compiler of this epitome read a few lessons in the beginning of the Sharhi-Waqayah with auspicious and blessed results in the presence of that great man. And Naqib Khan, also, had the good fortune to study under him, and verily, he was a wondrous precious person and blessed (the mercy of God be upon him!)
78.1.7
On the 8th of Jumada-l-awwal in the year nine hundred and sixty-nine (969) the Emperor went on a pilgrimage to the blessed tomb of that Pole-star of Shaikhs and Saints, Khwajah Mu‘in-ud-din Chishti (may God sanctify his glorious tomb!), and gave presents (P. 50) and alms to the people who waited there. And at the town of Sambhar, celebrated for its salt-mines, Raja Bahdrah Mall, governor of Amber, together with his son Rai Bhagvan Das, came and paid his respects to the Emperor, who then espoused his gentle daughter in honourable wedlock. And Mirza Sharaf-ud-din Husain, who held a fief on the confines of Ajmir, he appointed to reduce the fortress of Mirt’ha, which is within 20 cosses of Ajmir, and was held by Jaimall Rajput; and then returned quickly to Agra. Mirza Sharaf-ud-din Husain gave quarter to the garrison, but stipulated that they should carry away with them none of their goods, or personal property. So Jaimall evacuated the place. But a certain Deo Das one of Jaimall’s soldiers contrary to the stipulations, when the imperial troops were entering, with a considerable number of men set fire to the goods and chattels of the fortress, and offered an obstinate resistance. After raising many of the imperial soldiers to the grade of martyrdom, Jaimall himself went into eternal fire, and 200 of his renowned Rajputs went to hell. Thus by the help of Shah Budagh Khan, and his son ‘Abd-ul-mutlab Khan, and other Amirs the fortress was taken.
78.1.8
In those days Pir Muhammad Khan, who after Adham Khan went to the Court possessed absolute power in Malwah, collected a great force, and led it against Burhanpur and reduced Bijagarh a strong fortress by force of arms, and made a general slaughter. Then he turned towards Khandesh, and was not content with himself unless he practised to the utmost the Code of Changiz Khan [the Moghul, viz., no quarter], massacring, or making prisoners of all the inhabitants of Burhanpur and Asir. Crossing the river Narbadah he raised the conflict to the skies.