History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v3.c33.s7.15

v3.c33.s7.15

Masa'ud, on returning to Ghazni, found that he had committed a mistake. While trying to extend his dominions south-east, he had lost the most important province of Khorasan in the north-west. It was Mahmud alone who could vigilantly watch both east and west. The Seljukian Turks taking advantage of Masa'ud's forces being engaged in the distant Hindustan attacked and seized Khorasan. They were even preparing now to advance on Ghazni and Masa'ud was perturbed. He resolved upon retiring into Hindustan with all his family and treasure and gave orders accordingly. Frantic remonstances were addressed to him by his nobles, generals and officers and even by his mother. But Masa'ud as usual was inexorable and unamenable to advice. It is strange to find that this decision of the brave king was based on astrology. Curiously enough the Turks and even the Arabs were strong believers in astrology* like the Hindus, though Mahomet had strictly forbidden consulting the stars. “The prime minister wisely remonstrated that if his lord went into Hindustan with his ladies and his treasure, when the news would be known among friends and enemies, everybody being desirous of increasing his power, calamity would befall him”. But the ill-fated Masa'ud exclaimed “This dotard does not know what he says. That is right which I have determined. I am ready to acknowledge that you have written through affection for me. You must wait for further orders; for that which I see you cannot see. He handed over the city and the fort of Ghazni to the Kotwal Bu-Ali and remarked “My son Maudud, the minister and a large army will be away. Whatever may happen, in the spring I will settle the matter in another way. The astrologers have declared that my star is not propitious during winter.” The Kotwal urged that the ladies and the treasure should be secured in strong forts, but the Sultan replied that he had determined that they would remain with him and prayed to God to grant him peace and welfare in his journey to Hindustan (Baihak E. II. p. 52).