The Dynastic History of Northern India (Early Mediaeval Period) v2.c31.597

v2.c31.597

'In the middle of the month of Safar, 593 H. (January, 1197), the world-conquering Khusrū departed from Ajmīr, and with every description of forces turned his face towards the annihilation of the Rāī of Nahrwāla.' When he reached the lofty forts of Pālī and Nandūl, he found them abandoned, and the abode of owls, for the people had fled at the approach of the Musulmāns, and had collected under their leader Rāī Karan,¹ and Dārābars,² in great numbers, 'at the foot of Mt. Abu and at the mouth of a pass stood ready for fight and slaughter.' The Musulmāns did not dare to attack them in that strong position, especially in that very place Sulṭān Muḥammad Sām Ghūrī had fallen wounded, and it was considered of bad omen to bring on another action there, lest a similar accident might occur to the commander. The Hindus seeing this hesitation, and misconstruing it into cowardice and alarm, abandoned the pass, 'turned their face towards the fields of battle and the plain of honour and renown' for 'they were persuaded that fear had established itself in the hearts of the protectors of the sacred enclosure of religion.' 'The two armies stood face to face for some time engaged in preparations for fight, and on the night preceding Sunday, the 13th of Rabī'ul awwal, in a fortunate moment the army of Islam advanced from its camp, and at noon reached the position of the infidels.' A severe action ensued from dawn to midday, when ‘the army of idolatry and damnation turned its back in flight from the line of battle. Most of their leaders were taken prisoners, and nearly fifty thousand infidels were despatched to hell by the sword, and from the heaps of the slain, the hills and the plains became one level.’ Rāī Karan effected his escape from the field. ‘More than twenty thousand slaves, and twenty elephants and cattle and arms beyond all calculation fell into the hands of the victors.’ ‘You would have thought that the treasures of the kings of all the inhabited world had come into their possession.’