The Nāṣirī Generations 59.4

59.4

and, moreover, destiny cannot be averted by perfidy any more than by valour.” However, after the son of Saljuk had been conveyed across the Jihun, it was commanded that he should be brought to Multan, while his kinsmen, and his other followers and dependents were assigned pasture-lands for their flocks and cattle in the territory of Khurasan, such as Nisa, Nishapur, Baward and other tracts in Upper Khurasan. As the Almighty had willed that, subsequently, this race should become great and powerful, and that from their posterity should spring puissant and mighty monarchs and rulers, notwithstanding Sultan Mahmud afterwards regretted what he had done, still regret was of no avail, for regret cannot avert destiny. Imam Abu-l-Fazl-i-Baihaki states in his Ta'rikh-i-Nasiri that, at the time that Sultan Mahmud carried across the Jihun four thousand Saljuk families, their Mihtars, or chiefs, were four persons, Yagh-mur Bukah, Kuk-tash, and Kazil, and in different parts of Khurasan pasture-lands were assigned to them, and they were made over to [the guardianship of] the great nobles of Khurasan, and instructions were given to them that the Saljuks should, in no way, and on no account, be permitted to carry arms. Their chief, who was the eldest son of Saljuk, and famous for his manhood, was sent to Multan, along with two of his sons likewise; and at Multan, after some time had passed away, they also died.