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Habíbu-s Siyar of Khondamír (extracts) 2 - **Language:** English ### Account of the taking of Bust and Kusdár, and of the arrival of Amir Subuktigin at the summit of power. ### [2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.isl.fa.tarikh.habib-al-siyar~en-elliot.2.1) In the Rauzatu-s Safá, written by an elegant pen, and over the illustrious author of which the mantle of forgiveness of sins has been thrown, it is written thus. At the commencement of the reign of Amir Subuktigin, an individual named Tughán held sway in the fort of Bust. A certain Baitúz, having put on the girdle of enmity, rebelled and drove him out of Bust. Tughán flew for protection to the Court of Subuktigin, and prayed for help. Having consented to pay a large sum of money, he promised that, if by the aid of the amir, he should again become the possessor of Bust, he would carry the saddle-cloth of service on his shoulder, and pay tribute; and that during his whole life he would never depart from the path of obedience. Subuktigin consented to his request, led his army to Bust, routed Baitúz with blows of the soul-burning sword and flame-kindling spear, and Tughán arrived at the seat of his power; but he neglected the promises which he had made to Amir Násiru-d din (Subuktigin), and displayed by his proceedings the banner of fraud and treachery. One day, while riding out in the midst of his suite, Amir Subuktigin harshly required him to fulfil the engagements into which he had entered. Tughán returned an improper answer, seized his sword, and wounded Subuktigin in the hand. ### [2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.isl.fa.tarikh.habib-al-siyar~en-elliot.2.2) Násiru-d din, with the wounded hand, struck Tughán with his sword, and was about to despatch him with another blow, when their servants getting mixed with one another, raised such clouds of dust, that Tughán, under cover of it, escaped to Kirmán; and Subuktigin made himself master of Bust. Of the many advantages which accrued to Násiru-d din from that country having fallen into his fortune, one was, that Abu-l Fath was an inhabitant of Bust, a man who had not an equal in different varieties of learning, but more especially in composition and writing. Abu-l Fath had been the secretary of Baituz, but after that individual had been expelled from Bust, he had lived in retirement. Subuktigin was informed about him, and issued a royal mandate that that learned man, who wore the garment of eloquence, should be brought before him. He adorned the stature of his fitness with robes of different sorts of kindness, and ordered that he should be appointed professor of the "belles lettres." For several days, Abu-l Fath, considering the exigency of the time, begged to be excused from undertaking this important task, but at last he became the munshi and writer of Amir Subuktigin, and continued to hold that post until the time of Sultan Mahmud of Ghaznin. Having received some ill-treatment from Mahmud, he fled to Turkistan, and there died. When Amir Subuktigin had settled the affairs of Bust, he turned the reins of his desire towards Kusdar. ### [2.3](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.isl.fa.tarikh.habib-al-siyar~en-elliot.2.3) He suddenly appeared before that place, and its governor became the victim of the powerful decree of fate; but Amir Subuktigin, of his innate clemency and bounty, showed kindness towards him, and again made him governor of Kusdar, after fixing the sums of money which from the revenue of that country he should pay into the royal treasury. About that time, Amir Subuktigin formed the desire of fighting with the infidels of Hindustan; and brought several important parts of that country into the courtyard of obedience. Jaipal, who was then the greatest prince of Hindustan, fearing that he might lose the country which he had inherited from his ancestors, formed a large army, and directed his steps towards the country of the faithful. Amir Nasiru-d din Subuktigin came out to meet him, and a battle was fought most obstinate on both sides. In the middle of the heat of the battle, Amir Subuktigin ordered that they should throw a quantity of dirt into a fountain which was near the camp of Jaipal, the innate quality of the water of which was such that, when it became polluted with impurities, thunder and lightning flashed forth, and an overpowering frigidity followed. When they had done as Nasiru-d din had ordered, the nature of that water became fully apparent; for the Hindus were unable to resist any longer, and sent messengers to Subuktigin, offering ransom and tribute. Amir Nasiru-d din was willing to consent to reconciliation; ### [2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.isl.fa.tarikh.habib-al-siyar~en-elliot.2.4) but his son Mahmud wished to prevent him from acceding to this measure. At length, after Jaipal had repeatedly sent messengers and letters, Mahmud also consented to peace. It was agreed that Jaipal should quickly deliver over 1000 dirhams and fifty elephants, and afterwards that he should surrender to the agents of Subuktigin possession of several forts and cities of his country. These were the conditions of the capitulations which were drawn up between them. Jaipal, after he had sent the money and the elephants, despatched several chiefs of his army, by way of hostages, to Subuktigin; and Subuktigin also sent several of the chief men of his threshold, which was the nest of felicity, with Jaipal, in order that they might take possession of the country which had been ceded to Ghaznin. When Jaipal returned to his own country, he placed the book of his engagements on the shelf of forgetfulness, and imprisoned those noblemen, saying, "When Subuktigin sends back those hostages whom he took away with him, I will free these men, but not till then." When Amir Nasiru-d din heard this, he second time hastened to Hind, and subdued Afghán and several other places. Jaipál collected a great army from the cities of those parts of Hindústán, and nearly 100,000 men directed their steps towards the band of the faithful. ### [2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.isl.fa.tarikh.habib-al-siyar~en-elliot.2.5) Amír Násiru-d dín went out to meet him, and a dreadful battle was again fought on both sides. This time, Jaipál, being shamefully defeated, escaped into the furthest extremities of his own country, and the great land of Hind became established in the courtyard of submission to Subuktigín. After Amír Násiru-d dín had returned from this expedition, in accordance with the request of Abú-l Kásim Núh bin Mansúr Sámání, he led his army to Khurásán and liberated that province. He then spent his time according to the desire of his heart, until the month of Sha'bán, 387, when speedy death overpowered him. Amír Subuktigín declared his son Isma'íl, who was born of the daughter of Alptigín, his successor, and then made his journey to the other world. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/inf.isl.fa.tarikh.habib-al-siyar~en-elliot.2](https://indike.org/pramana/inf.isl.fa.tarikh.habib-al-siyar~en-elliot.2) · Pramāṇa