[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) › [Humāyūn and the Sūrs (1530–1556)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.humayun) › [Qānūn-i Humāyūnī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.humayun.qanun-i-humayuni) › [Humayun-nama of Khondamir (extracts)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.humayun.qanun-i-humayuni~en-elliot) › 9 # The Institutes of Humāyūn 9: Building of Dinpanáh. Humáyún-náma of Khondamír (extracts) 9 - **Language:** English ### [9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.humayun.qanun-i-humayuni~en-elliot.9) Another great work of this just and generous King was the city of Dínpanáh, which was really the asylum of religious men. The musk-resembling pen perfumes the minds of good people by writing an account of its foundation. In the month of Sha'bán, A.H. 939 (1533 A.D.), when the fort of Gwálior was made the object of envy to the high revolving heavens by the royal presence, the great King one night sat there on the Imperial throne, and having ordered all his great courtiers and learned companions to sit down, conversed with them on various topics. In this discourse he poured from his tongue the secrets of the pearls of these words, that long time since it was his intention to found near the capital of Dehli a large city, the ramparts of which from their loftiness might open the tongue of reproach and scorn at Khawarnak and Sawír, the palaces of Bahrám, and that the keeper of its bastions might claim equality with Saturn. Also that in this city a magnificent palace of seven storeys should be erected, surrounded by delightful gardens and orchards, of such elegance and beauty, that its fame might draw people from the remotest corners of the world for its inspection. That the city should be the asylum of wise and intelligent persons, and be called DInpanah. Those who were present in the assembly which resembled paradise, opened their tongues in approbation and applause of such a scheme. At the same time, it was discovered by the most witty and clever Maulana, Shahabu-d din Ahmad Mu'amma,i, that the numerical value of the words Shahr-i padshah Dinpanah was 940, and he said that if the city were built in that year it would be a very remarkable fact. The same moment these words were brought to the notice of the King, who, as well as all the officers of the high Court, was greatly struck with them. All persons that were present at the time began to sing with their tongues the following stanza before His Majesty, who understood the excellencies of poetry well : "The picture which your imagination draws on your mind, Nothing contrary to it is done by the hand of destiny. What your understanding writes on a leaf Agrees with the book of the Will of God." In short, the King accordingly fixed the resolution in his enlightened mind. After, under the protection of the Almighty God, he had returned from Gwalior to Agra, he turned the reins of his world-travelling horse, in the beginning of the month of Zi-l hijja, A.H. 939, towards the city of Dehli. When he had reached the city, which was as beautiful as heaven, safe under the care of God from all evils, and had taken omens and religious advice, a rising ground adjacent to the banks of the stream of Jumna, about three kos from the city, was selected for the foundation of the city of Dinpanah. In the middle of the month of the sacred Muharram, a.h. 940, at an hour which was prescribed by the most clever astrologers and the greatest astronomers, all the great mashaikhs (religious men) the respectable saiyids, the learned persons, and all the elders of the city of Dehli, accompanied the King, who was as generous as the ocean, to the spot, prayed the Almighty God to finish the happy foundation of that city, and to strengthen the basis of the King's wealth. First, His Majesty with his holy hand put a brick on the earth, and then each person from that concourse of great men placed a stone on the ground, and they all made such a crowd there that the army, people, and the artists, masons, and labourers found no room or time to carry stones and mud to the spot. On the same date work was also commenced in the King's own palace. At this time, i.e. the latter part of the month of Shawwal of the same year, the walls, bastions, ramparts, and the gates of the city of Dinpanah are nearly finished. - [Previous: 8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.humayun.qanun-i-humayuni~en-elliot.8) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.humayun.qanun-i-humayuni~en-elliot.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.humayun.qanun-i-humayuni~en-elliot.9) · Pramāṇa