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The Nāṣirī Generations 126: VIII. MALIK KHAN, SON OF TAKISH, KHWĀRAZM SHĀH.

Tabakat-i-Nasiri 126

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126

Malik Khan was the eldest son of Sultan Takish, and was a mighty and arrogant monarch. He was endowed with great sagacity, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, nobleness of mind, and intrepidity.
When his father wrested Nishapur and other parts of that territory out of the hands of the Sanjari slaves, such as the descendants of Malik Mu-ayyid were, Sanjar Shah, who was the son of Tughan Shah, the son of Malik Mu-ayyid, he induced, by treaty, to come out of Nishapur, and gave the throne of Nishapur to his son, Malik Khan.
When he assumed the throne of that territory, he brought under his sway the tracts of country around as far as the gate of ’Irak; and a great number of eminent men assembled at his Court. He reigned for a considerable time, and died, leaving a son named Hindu Khan.
He [Hindu Khan] was an exceedingly intrepid, high-minded prince, and was endowed with a poetical genius. After the decease of his father and his grandfather, he began to collect forces in Khurasan, and, in consequence, his uncle, Sultan Muhammad, son of Takish, reprehended him. Hindu Khan composed a few elegant lines, and sent them to his uncle:—
“A hundred treasure-hoards be thine: the keen poniard mine. The palace thine: the steed and the battle-field be mine. Shouldst thou desire that hostility cease between us, Be Khwarazm thine, King! the country of Khurasan mine.”
Sultan Muhammad-i-Takish wrote the following lines in reply:—
Soul of thine uncle! this ambition takes the path of insanity; This monition will take effect neither on thee nor on me, ’Till blood, to the hilt, shall the sword’s blade smear: ’Till, of one of us two, triumph’s fire shall the highest blaze.”
Hindu Khan was not powerful enough to offer opposition to his uncle and his armies, and he came to the territories of Ghur, and sought assistance; but he was unable to obtain it, and he pressed onwards for Khita. He possessed mettle, but he was not favoured by fortune; and he was martyred on the confines of Bamian.