Firishta's History (Gulshan-i Ibrāhīmī) 89.7.5

89.7.5

Syud Ahmud Hirvy relates that Ismael Adil Shah was just, prudent, patient, and liberal; and from the abundance of his magnanimity he gave rewards without too minutely inspecting the condition of his treasury. He was extremely generous also, frequently pardoning state criminals, and was averse from listening to slander. He never used passionate language. He possessed great wit, to which he added a sound and acute judgment. He was an adept in the arts of painting, varnishing, making arrows, and embroidering saddle-cloths. In music and poetry he excelled most of his age. He was fond of the company of learned men and poets, numbers of whom were munificently supported at his court. He was delighted with repartee in conversation, and had a great fund of humour, which he often displayed in his intercourse with his courtiers: no other king of the Deccan equalled him in this respect. He was fonder of the Turkish and Persian manners, music, and language, than the Deccany: he seldom made use of the latter tongue. This partiality was owing to his being educated under the tuition of his aunt, Dilshad Agha, who by desire of his father kept him as much as possible from the company of Deccanies, so that he had little relish for that people. He was buried at Gogy, near the tomb of his father, Yoosoof Adil Shah.