Muntakhab al-tawarikh 78.4.6

78.4.6

While the compiler of this Muntakhab was at Āgra occupied in acquiring the usual branches of knowledge, the Shaikh came in the dress of a Faqīr, with great display and unutterable dignity, and his fame filled the universe. I wished to pay my respects to him, but when I found that he rose up to do honour to Hindūs, I felt obliged to forego the pleasure. But one day I saw him riding through the bazaar in Āgra. A great crowd accompanied him, before and behind, and to return their salutations, and humble gestures, he was obliged continually to bow on every side, so that he had not a moment’s leisure to sit upright in his saddle. Although he was 80 years of age a wonderful freshness, and remarkably fine colour, were observable in his complexion (God be merciful unto him!). On the 26th of the blessed month of Ramzan of this year my most venerable maternal grandfather died at Basawar, I received this news at Sansawan, a dependency of Sambhal. Fazil-i Jahan “Excellent one of the world” gives the date. Since I was indebted to him for instruction in several things, besides some of the Arab sciences, and he deserved greatly the respect of men of science, I experienced much distress and sorrow from this event, and it reopened the wound occasioned by the recent death of my valued father. This verse of Amir Khusru (Upon him be mercy !) occurred to my mind: — “A sword passed on my head, my heart remained two halves, A sea of blood flowed, a unique pearl remained.”