[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Kashmir](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir) › [Tārīkh-i Rashīdī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi) › [The Tarikh-i-Rashidi (Elias, Ross)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross) › 189 # The Rashīdī History 189: CHAPTER LXX. · THE KHAN'S REPENTANCE. The Tarikh-i-Rashidi (Elias, Ross) 189 - **Language:** English ### [189](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.189) It has been already explained to how great an extent the Khan was addicted to wine-drinking. If, for example, he dreamt of sobriety, he interpreted it to mean that he ought to get drunk; this is \[the system of\] interpretation by contraries. \[Turki couplet\], . . . No one would ever have imagined that the Khan could give up this habit, but by the intervention of Providence he repented him of his intemperance . . . . In short, at the end of the winter following that spring which saw Rashid Sultan set out for Moghulistan, the Khan happened to be in Yangi-Hisar. My uncle was in attendance on him, while I was in Yarkand. I have frequently heard the Khan relate that, one night when a drinking bout was coming to an end, the following verse came into his head: "'At night he is drunk, at dawn he is drunk, and all day he is crop-sick; see how he passes his noble life! It is time that thou should'st return to thy God \[and abandon these unseemly practices\].' When this purpose had become fixed in my heart, I again became irresolute \[and said to myself\]: 'these ideas are merely the outcome of excessive inebriety. For otherwise, who could endure life without this form of enjoyment?' Thinking thus I fell asleep; when I awoke I writhed like a snake with crop-sickness, and to dispel this I called for a draught. When it was brought, the intentions of the night before again took possession of my brain, and I sent for Sayyid Muhammad Mirza, and said to him: 'I am tired of this wine-drinking, and wish to reform.'" Now my uncle had for a long while been a disciple of the order of Yasavvi Shaikhs, and practised austerity and abstinence; thus he had been greatly distressed at the Khan's shortcomings; but when the Khan now announced to Him his desire to mend his ways, my uncle burst into tears and urged him strongly to carry out his intention. Having repented, the Khán went into the assembly; \[verses\] .... the wine-bibbers and profligates were dejected and distressed, but all the pious and the learned rejoiced, while the zealots and devotees began to thank God, and the townsfolk and peasantry stretched their hands in praise to heaven. Thus the Khán repented of his past deeds, and night and day begged the forgiveness of God for his offences. . . - [Previous: 188](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.188) - [Next: 190.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.190.1) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.189](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.kashmir.tarikh-i-rashidi~en-ross.189) · Pramāṇa