The Nāṣirī Generations 149.2.6

149.2.6

He [’Ala-ud-Din] also began to show a contumacious spirit towards Sultan Sanjar, and manifested open hostility towards him. What the Sultans of Ghur had stipulated for, and which used to reach the Sanjari Court every year, such as arms and armour, rarities, and offerings, ’Ala-ud-Din withheld; and matters reached such a pass, that Sultan Sanjar assembled a numerous army, and determined to march into the territory of Ghur. Sultan 'Ala-ud-Din collected the forces of Ghur, and advanced to meet the Sultan as far as the limits of the town of Nab, between Firuz-koh and Hirat, in the valley of the Hariw-ar-Rud. There is water there, and a delightful and extensive plain, which they call Sih-goshah-i-Nab; and at that place an engagement took place between the two armies. Sultan ’Ala-ud-Din, a day before the battle was fought, had directed so that the ground in rear of the forces of Ghur had been entirely laid under water; and he had caused it to be proclaimed that the ground in the rear had become quite flooded, and that whoever should attempt to fly to the rear would get into the mud, and stick there.