The Nāṣirī Generations 264: Anecdote.
Tabakat-i-Nasiri 264
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- English
Anecdote.
264.1
An anecdote, worthy of insertion here, is related, as referring to the occurrences which happened at the period in question. In the year 622 H., the author of this Tabakat, Minhaj-i-Saraj, who is the servant of the Sultan’s dynasty, had occasion to undertake a journey, on a mission from Ghur towards the Kuhistan, at the request of the august Malik, Rukn-ud-Din, Muhammad-i-’Usman, the Maraghani — may he rest in peace! — for the adjustment of the route of karwans [of merchants and travellers], and the tranquillity of this territory. When he [the author] reached the city of Ka-in, he there saw an Imam, one of the great men of Khurasan, whom they were wont to style Kazi Wahid-ud-Din, the Bushanji [of Bushanj or Fushanj] — the Almighty’s mercy be upon him! That Imam related [saying], “In the disaster of Hirat I was present in that city; and, every day, in conjunction with the Ghazis [holy-warriors], its defenders, I used to don arms and armour, and proceed to the top of the ramparts, and view the multitude of the forces.
264.2
One day, I was at the top of the ramparts of the city of Hirat while the fight and tumult was going on, in full panoply, with helmet and cuirass, besides other things, when, suddenly, I missed my footing from the top of the walls, and fell down towards the ditch, and, like unto a stone or a ball, I went rolling down the face of the khak-rez, whilst men, Mughals and Musalman renegades, with arrows fitted to their bows, and with stones, were aiming at me, until, rolling over and over, I fell into the midst of the infidels, and was made prisoner by a body of men who, in making the attack, had come to the foot of the parapet, and the face of the khak-rez, and descended into the ditch. This mischance happened to me at a point facing which Tuli, son of the Chingiz Khan, had had a tent pitched, at the edge of the ditch, and the Mughal troops were fighting under his personal observation. Although I came rolling down the face of the khak-rez a distance of about twenty [ells], until I descended into the abyss of the ditch, which was forty more, Almighty God shielded me under his protection so that I experienced no wound, neither did any of my members sustain any hurt or fracture whatever.
264.3
When I came to the ground he [Tuli] caused a party to run up with speed, telling them: 'Bring ye that person alive, and do not harm him in the least.' When, in accordance with that command, they conducted me to the presence of Tuli, he looked at me searchingly, and gave orders to them, saying: 'See whether he has received any hurt;' and, as there was none, he said to me: 'What person art thou—of the race of Adam, or a pari, a demon, or an angel, or dost thou hold a charm bearing the names of the Ulugh Tingri? Speak truly, how it is.' I bowed my face to the ground and replied: 'I am an unfortunate man of the learned class, and one of those who blesses or prays; but I had one thing with me.' He said: 'What hadst thou with thee?' I bowed my head to the ground, and replied: 'The sight of a sovereign like thee had fallen upon me, and through the felicity thereof, I remained in safety.' This reply was favourably received by Tuli, and he looked upon me with favourable eyes, and remarked, saying: 'This person is a sagacious man, and a wise, and may be qualified for the service of the Chingiz Khan. It is necessary that ye take care of him in order that he may be conducted to his presence;' and he commanded so that they made me over to the care of one of the respected Mughals.
264.4
"After Tuli had completed the conquest of the cities and districts of Khurasan, he took me along with him to the Chingiz Khan's presence, and related the story [to him], and in the Chingiz Khan's service I found great favour. I was constantly in attendance at his threshold, and he used continually to inquire of me the traditions of the prophets, and concerning the sovereigns of 'Ajam, and the kings of the past ; and would inquire : ‘ Did Muhammad (on whom be peace !), foretell aught respecting my rise and sway?' I used to relate to him the traditions [of the Prophet] which they have related respecting the irruption of the Turk; and he used to say: ‘My heart bears evidence that thou speakest the truth,' until one day, during conversation, he said to me : ‘A mighty name will remain behind me in the world through taking vengeance upon Muhammad, the Aghri — that is to say, he used to call Sultan Muhammad, Khwarazm Shah, by this term, and, in the Turki language, aghri signifies a robber — and this expression he would greatly make use of and say : — ‘ Khwarazm Shah was not a monarch : he was a robber.
264.5
Had he been a monarch he would not have slain my envoys and traders who had come to Utrar, for kings should not slay ambassadors.’ In short, when he inquired of me, ‘Will not a mighty name remain behind me?’ I bowed my face to the ground, and said : ‘ If the Khan will promise the safety of my life, I will make a remark,’ He replied : ‘ I have promised thee its security.’ I said : ‘ A name continues to endure where there are people, but how will a name endure when the Khan's servants martyr all the people and massacre them, for who will remain to tell the tale ? ' When I finished this sentence, the Chingiz Khan dashed the bow and arrow which he had in his hand upon the ground, and became exceeding enraged, and turned his face away from me, and his back towards me. When I beheld the effects of rage upon his impious brow, I washed my hands of life, and gave up all hope of existence. I made sure to myself that the time of my departure was come, and that I should leave the world from the blow of the sword of this accursed one.
264.6
“After a minute had passed away, he turned his face towards me again, and said : ‘ I used to consider thee a sagacious and prudent man, but, from this speech of thine, it has become evident to me that thou dost not possess complete understanding, and that thy comprehension is but small. There are many kings in the world, and, whereever the hoofs of the horses of Muhammad, the Aghri, have reached, there I will carry slaughter and cause devastation. The remaining people who are in other parts of the world, and the sovereigns of other kingdoms that are, they will relate my history.’ No favour on the part of the Chingiz Khan remained to me, and it came about that I was distant from his presence; and I fled from the Mughal army, and made my escape, and returned thanks and praise unto Almighty God for the same.”