التاريخ اليميني 46.21

46.21

وأخذ على تفيئة ذلك نحو قلعة آسي وصاحبها المعروف بچندبال بهور أحد أنياب الهنود، وأرباب الجنود. ولم يزل ذا منعة بالملك، وسعة في الملك، فعرض له راي قنوج منازعا، وماده الحرب مكاوحا ومقارعا، فلم يزد على أن أتعب أولياءه، ونكل على الخيبة وراءه. وقد أحاط بهذه القلعة غياض متكاثفة كأعراف الجياد، ومتداخلة كأشعار الحداد. لا تستجيب الأفاعي بينها للرقاة، ولا يستنير البدر عندها للسراة. قد أحاطت بها خنادق قعيرات الحفائر، فسيحات الدوائر، إحاطة الثور بالثريا فماله عنها انفراج، ولا لها دونه انعراج.

The people of this fortress stood up to resist him, but when they knew what is the power of confidence and the strength of salvation from non-existence, they cast themselves down from the summit of the castle, and some of them struck themselves with darts and the edge of swords, and sent their impure souls to the mansion of destruction. From hence the Sultan came to the fortress of Aster, held by Jandbal the Violent, one of the most furious of the Indians, confiding in the extent of his territory and his numerous army. The Rajah of Kanuj was annoyed by him, and several times marched towards his province, but returned without being able to effect anything. This castle was situated in the midst of forests, upon an eminence, and deep moats were drawn around it. And when Jandbal saw the wounding blows of the Sultan's legions and the strokes of his riders, and was aware that Fate was reaching out her claws to seize him by the neck, and that the angel of death was sharpening his teeth to flay him, he broke up the earth of his castle and took to flight. The stars of religion, the stoners of devils, and the champions of the Sultan went after them, killing and plundering, so that Jandbal and his comrades were deceived, for the Sultan's men made them know their awful power and dreadful might.