[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Mughals (1526–1857)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal) › [Akbar (1556–1605)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar) › [The Book of Akbar](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama) › 1.287-302 # The Book of Akbar 1.287-302 Akbarnāma 1.287-302 - **Language:** Persian ### [1.287](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama.1.287) بنابر آن، خاطر ازین اندیشه باز آورده خودرا آمادهآ آن ساختم که اگر همت دستگیری کند و توفیق یاوری نماید احوال سعادت منوال پادشاه صورت و معنی پیشوای دین و دنیارا نگاشتهآ کلک بیان گردانم و صفات جمال و جلال و نعوت عظمت و کمال و بدایع بزم و غرایب رزم و شرائف عبادات و لطایف عادات این برگزیدهآ الهیرا بیشائبهآ تکلفات نثرپردازان نظم گستر فراهم آورم تا حق عبودیت و ارادت ولی نعمت گذارده باشم، و هم حقی بر نورسان عالم شهود و آیندگان قوافل وجود ثابت گردانیده. هرچند هریکی ازین چهار چیز باعث قوی بود بر اقدام این امر رفیع قدر اما ازآنجا که مقصد بلند و همت کوتاه بود این دولت میسر نمیشد و این امنیت بحصول نمی پیوست تا آنکه بر پیشگاه خاطر اخلاص مظاهر چنین جلوه دادند که درین شغل شگرف همچنانکه حق مخلوق می گذاری حق خالق نیز بجای میآری. اگرچه آداب ارادت و حقوق نعمترسیدگ ادا می کنی در معنی بحمد خدای جهان آفرین قیام مینمائی. > glorious Sun? It is sufficient honour and glory to describe itself in that Presence as an insignificant atom. In that Presence where the favoured magnates of the Court to whom the power of recommending a tiny ant has not been vouchsafed, have not received permission to express their wishes, how can it be proper for one who, like myself, is remaining on the threshold and is without right of access, to solicit grace and favour for the chosen courtiers and to ask pardon and paradise for them. If he should, from inconsideration, lengthen the tongue of boldness, by what name would he be called in the justice-hall of discernment, and what reproach would he not receive from the Inquisitor of Justice! I therefore gave up that idea and made myself ready, so that, if my abilities permitted and the Divine aid were vouchsafed to me, I might reduce to writing the auspicious description of the King of manifestation and reality, the leader of religion and realm (dīn u dunyā), and might bring together his beautiful and awful attributes and the praises of his majesty and perfection; to wit,—the marvellous festivals, wondrous wars, exalted devotions, and pleasant ways of this chosen one of God, without the disagreeable admixtures of poetical prose writers. So that I might acquit myself of my duties of (1) worship, (2) loyalty, (3) gratitude, and might also establish a claim to the regard of newcomers to the world and of future travellers by life’s caravans. > — Henry Beveridge 1897, The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II > Though each one of those four points was a powerful motive for entering upon this great task, yet, as my aim was lofty and ability small, success was not attained nor my desire achieved until this light shone on the antechamber of my truth-reflecting heart; to wit — “In this noble enterprise, at the same time that you discharge your duty to the creature, you are also fulfilling your obligations to the Creator. While you are paying your devoirs of respect and gratitude, you are in reality, steadfastly engaged in praising God, the Creator of the world.” Day by day, my purpose was growing confirmed and the materials of success were being collected, until at length, out of general good-will to the partakers of his felicity and from special favour to me, his charmed-one, a ray of intimation from the court of liberality reached this—as regards his sincerity,—forerunner on the highway of loyalty, but—as regards attainment of desires,—hindermost (member) of the caravans of felicity; and to Abu-l-fazl, son of Mubarak, upon the crown of whose heart is the quadripartite cap of discipleship and whose seven times embroidered sleeve of devotion is celebrated throughout the eighteen thousand creations, this sublime mandate was given. "Write with the pen of sincerity the account of the glorious events and of our dominion-increasing victories. What shall I say was the effect of this order for describing the occurrences? > — Henry Beveridge 1897, The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II ### [1.302](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama.1.302) روز بروز این عزم مصصم میشد و اسباب نیکبختی آماده میگشت تا آنکه از بارگاه افضال بخصوص تربیت این نظرکردهآ خود و عموم مهربانی مستعدان سعادت برین پیشقدم سالکان شاهراه ارادت نظر باخلاص و وایسترین قوافل ارباب سعادت نظر بعز مراد، ابو الفضل بن مبارک، که کلاه چهارترکی ارادت بر تارک دل مانده و آستین هفت طراز عقیدت بر هژده هزار عالم افشانده پرتو اشارت تافت که سوانح احوال اقبال قرین و وقایع فتوحات دولت افزای مارا بخامهآ صدق نگارش نماید. چگویم که این حکم نوشتن سرگذشت بود؟ یا بخشیدن همت نگاشتنرا اجازت فرمود؟ یا دلرا سعادت بخشیده واقعه نویس جلایل آثار ساخت؟ یا زبان عجمیرا فصاحت گفتار کرامت کرد؟ نی نی، سخن را بال و قلم را قدم بخشید. سروش غیب بود که از عالم بالا مژدهآ جانبخش رسانید، یا ناموس اکبر که از پیشگاه جبروت تنزیل وی نمود. > Did it grant permission to undertake the task by bestowing on me the necessary genius? or did it, by a grant of felicity to my heart, appoint me the recorder of glorious events? or did it bestow eloquence on one rude of speech? Nay! nay! it gave wings to my words and feet to my pen. It was an invisible angel, conveying from the upper world, life-giving news of joy. It was the Archangel Gabriel bringing down a revelation from the antechamber of Omnipotence. Assuredly, I spent much labour and research in collecting the records and narratives of his Majesty’s actions and I was a long time interrogating the servants of the State and the old members of the illustrious family. I examined both prudent, truth-speaking old men and active-minded, right-actioned young ones and reduced their statements to writing. The royal commands were issued to the provinces, that those who from old service remembered, with certainty or with adminicle of doubt, the events of the past, should copy out their notes and memoranda and transmit them to Court. Inasmuch as this auspicious invitation was not fully responded to nor my wish fully accomplished, a second command shone forth from the holy Presence-chamber; > — Henry Beveridge 1897, The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II ## Translations (1) - [The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.5.1) — Henry Beveridge 1897, English --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama.1.287-302](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama.1.287-302) · Pramāṇa