Storia do Mogor 141.7

141.7

Malik Khas did one thing which was of great profit to the king, wherein he acted as a man of wisdom. Sultan Mahmud was a great hater of heathendom, and had as his nickname ' Destroyer of Temples.' It happened that in a battle he (Malik Khas) overcame the Hindus, and, destroying a temple, carried to the king one of the images, which the Hindus wished to redeem by a large payment. Sultan Mahmud assembled his council, and all voted for his taking the money, with which he could then continue the war against the Hindus, and thus destroy them utterly. The king would not carry out the decision of his councillors until he had heard the opinion of Malik Khas. He said to the king that it was not a good proposal, since His Majesty's greatest fame and glory was to be known as the Destroyer of Temples. If he took this money, he would be henceforth called the ' Vendor of Temples '; thus would he come to lose the great name he had. Better were it to order the image to be destroyed in his own presence ; it had a large abdomen. Sultan Mahmud listened to the words of his wise and faithful servant, and there and then ordered a mace to be brought, and the image to be broken. Hidden in the abdomen there was a great quantity of precious stones, pearls of great price, and other valuables. In this way he (Malik Khas) preserved the good name of his master without losing the money to be obtained by selling the image. On the contrary, a great deal more was gained.