[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) › [Akbarnāma](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama) › [The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge) › 3.1.6 # The Book of Akbar 3.1.6 The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II 3.1.6 - **Language:** English ### [3.1.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.3.1.6) “If thou hast not the power of utterance and canst not chaunt panegyrics, be not cast down, for it is the smooth-tongued and empty-handed who, by a fraudulent barter, traffic words at the rate of realities. The praise which is laid upon mankind as a duty, by the commands of the Understanding,—that world-obeyed “sovereign—is that they make the night-illuminating jewel of reason—one of the bountiful Divine Ruler's greatest gifts—into a bright lamp and employ it for sweeping and cleansing the courts of their outer and inner man. Should the taskmasters of fate's workshop have attired a son of Adam in the garb of want and solitude, let him first of all gird up his loins for self-culture and afterward let him endeavour the improvement of others. Should they have brought him into a crowd of associations and contacts—as may be inevitable in the arrangements of this evil world—let him, if a ruler, prefer the betterment of others to his own; for the duty of the shepherd is watching the flock, and the design of sovereignty is universal guardianship. If he be a subject, let him, first of all, show alacrity in obeying the orders of his legitimate ruler, and then let him cleanse the secret chambers of his heart from the dust of heavy-pacing sensuality and nimble-footed wrath, so that, by his life and conversation, he be a teacher and a testimony of the incomparable Giver and Cherisher of his outer and inner man.” - [Previous: 3.1.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.3.1.5) - [Next: 3.1.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.3.1.7) - [Up: 3.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.3.1) ## Linked texts (1) - [Akbarnāma](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama.1.68-77) — Abū'l-Faḍl ʿAllāmī 1589, Persian --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.3.1.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.3.1.6) · Pramāṇa