History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v3.c36.s1.1

v3.c36.s1.1

The important kingdom in his immediate neighbourhood was the kingdom of Ajmer and Delhi ruled by Prithvīrāj and the two emperors were equally matched in their personal capacities and the extent of their resources. The history of this conflict is differently told in the Rāsā of Chand and the Taj-ul-Ma'sir of Nizamuddin followed by the Tabakat-i-Nasiri. Both sides exaggerate the merits of their heroes; but historically considered, the account of the Taj and the Tabakat, written about 20 and 50 years respectively after the event, is more reliable than the almost fabulous account given in the Rāsā amplified to its present form nearly 300 years after Prithvīrāja. We will, therefore, mainly follow the account of these Mahomedan writers and try to test it historically; though it may be regretted that the Taj is not more detailed and less poetical, in fact is not to be compared with the well-known chronicle of Mahmud by Utbi.