The Nāṣirī Generations 189.1

189.1

'Ali-i-Mardan, the Khalj, was a man of vast energy, vehement, intrepid, and daring. Having obtained release from imprisonment at Naran-go-e [or Naran-ko-e], he came to the presence of Sultan Kutb-ud-Din, I-bak, and accompanied him towards Ghaznin; and he became a captive in the hands of the Turks of Ghaznin. A chronicler has related in this manner, that one day, when he was out hunting along with Sultan Taj-ud-Din, Yal-duz, he began saying to one of the Khalj Amirs, whom they used to style Salar [a leader, chief] Zaffir: “What sayest thou if, with one arrow, I should slay Taj-ud-Din, Yal-duz, within this shikar-gah [chase] and make thee a sovereign.” The Salar, Zaffir, the Khalj, was a very sagacious person, and he was shocked at this speech, and prohibited him from [the committal of] such a deed. When ’Ali-i-Mardan returned from thence, the Salar, Zaffir, presented him with two horses and sent him away. When ’Ali-i-Mardan came back again into Hindustan, he presented himself before Sultan Kutb-ud-Din, I-bak, and received an honorary robe, and was treated with great favour, and the territory of Lakhanawati was assigned to him. He proceeded towards Lakhanawati, and, when he passed the river Kons, Husam-ud-Din, ’Iwaz, the Khalj, [feudatory] of Diw-kot, went forth to receive him, and 'Ali-i-Mardan proceeded to Diw-kot and assumed the government, and brought the whole of the country of Lakhanawati under his sway.