The Astronomical Observatories of Jai Singh c5.44

c5.44

Although this was a mighty task, which during a long period of time none of the powerful Rajas had prosecuted; nor among the tribes of Islām, since the time of the martyr prince, whose sins are forgiven,³ MIRZA ULUGH BEG, to the present, which comprehends a period of more than three hundred years,⁴ had any one of the kings possessed of power and dignity turned his attention to this object. Yet to accomplish the exalted command he had received, he bound the girdle of resolution about the loins of his soul and constructed here⁵ several of the instruments of an observatory, such as had been erected at Samarqand,⁶ agreeable to the Mussalman books,⁷ such as Zāt al-Ḥalqa⁸ of brass, in diameter three gaz⁹ of the measure now in use and Zāt al-Sha'batain¹⁰ and Zāt al-Zaqatain and Sads¹¹ Fakhri and Shāmalar.¹²