English
The duty that I thought incumbent upon myself in the interests of thy well-being, I have discharged; after this, my sovereign is at liberty to do what he pleases.” The king putting the padlock of silence on the portal of the tongue, kept quiet, and said within himself, “ As Ghiasu- d-din is a dutiful son and possesses capacity for ruling, even if he seeks to take my life, let it be so! Happy it is if the son dutiful. But if he is nndutifnl, may he perish!” After this, he 107 put the reins of authority entirely into the hands of Saltan Ghiasn-d-din. But Ghiasu-d-din, who suspected always the wiles and stratagems of the quecu, one day on the pretext of hunting escaped towards Sunargaon, and in a short time mobi¬ lising a large army, demanded the throne from his father. Short¬ ly after, in order to wrest the kingdom, he marched with a largo army from Sunargaon, and encamped at Sunargadhi. 1 Prom the other side, the father also with a powerful army advanced. On the next day, on the battlefield of Goalpara, 2 both sides marshall- iug their forces prepared to fight. The son shewed malice towards the father: Blood flowed from the perturbed heart. The father snapped the ties of kindness and affection : You might say that love had vanished from the world. Although G]jiasu-d-din had given strict oroers to his soldiers and commanders that to the utmost they should capture the king alive, but as fate willed otherwise, Sikandar Shah was unknow¬ ingly killed at the hands of one of the commanders of Ghiasn-d- din. Whilst still the slayer was standing at his head, one amongst them seeing Sikandar Shah killed, enquired as to who had killed him. He said: “ I have killed him ; ” the other man said, “ You felt no pity for Sultan Sikandar.” Then both in fright went to Ghiasu-d-din and said: “In case we fear that by restraining our hands, we may be killed, can we kill him ? ” Ghiasu-d-din said: “ Certainly yon may kill him,” and after some reflection he said: “ Apparently, thou bast killed the kiug.” The slayer said : “ Yes, unknowingly t inflicted a cat with the spear on the heart of the king. Still he has some remnants of life.” Ghiasu-d-din proceeded swiftly, dismounted from the horse, and placed the head of the father on his lap, aud tears trickled down his cheek, and he said: “ Father, open thy eyes, and express thy dying 1 Not identified, bat it mast have been olose to San&rgaon. 8 Identified by Professor Bloohmann to be a village qaite olo&s to Panduah, S.-W. of it (J AS., 1873, p. 256). Bat Dr. Wise in bis interesting “Notes on Sanargaon (J. A. S. for 1874, p. 85) correctly places ic near Jafargonje in Dhaka district, and nearly opposite to the junction of the Ganges and the Jabnnu. “ Eight years ago,” says Dr. Wise, “ Sikandar Shah's tomb was pointed oat in the above neighbourhood.” Ttiih, that I may fulfil it.” The king opened his eyes, and said : “ My life’s work is over; the kingdom is welcome to thee. May you prosper iu your sovereignty, As I have quitted the world.” After he said this, the bird of his soul flew away. Ghiagu- d-dln seeing no good in tarrying further, left behind some nobles to attend to the obsequies of his father, and himself rode forward towards Panduah, and ascended the throne. The reign of Sikandar Shah 1 lasted nine years and some months. He was a contemporary of the saint ‘ Alaul Haq . 2 THE REIGN OF GIJIASU-D-DIN , 3 SON OF SIKANDAR SHAH. When Sikandar Shah was laid in the grave, the throne of Bengal received eclat from the accession of Sultan Gljiasu-d-dio. First blinding the eyes of his step-brothers, he sent them to their mother, and freed himself from anxiety as to the wiles of his brothers. After this, he commenced dispensing justice, and throughout his life lived at rest and ease. It is related that once Multan Ghiasu-d-din falling seriously ill despaired of life, and selected three maids from his harem, one named Sarv, the 1 For his coinage see Thomas’s Initial Coinage (J.A.S., 1867, pt. II). Hi.j name from coins (see pp. 65-67 J.A.8., 1867), appears to be 1 .Abul Majahid S.*candar Shah.” Some of his coins are of Suuargaon mint. * Shaikh ’Alauddin Alanl Haq died on the 1st Rajab, 800 A.H. or 20th March, 1398, and his tomb is at Panduah. A short biographical sketch of this saint is given by Professor Blochmann in J.A.8.B., p. 262 for 1873. His son and successor was Shaikh Nuruddin Nur Qotf> Aiam who died in 851 A.H. or 1447 A.C., and lies buried at Panduah. Nur Qutb Alam was succeed¬ ed by his boub Rafiuddin and Shaikh Anwar. ... „ 1 On the coins, he is called Ghiasuddin Abul Muzaffar Azam Shah, (See Thomas’s Initial Coinage of Bengal, J.A.8. for 1867, pp. 68-60). Hi. Oarly coins were minted at Muazzamabad in- Eastern Bengal, and he held court at Suuargaon, during the lifetime of his father Sikandar Shih, against whom he rebelled. His court was an asylum for the learned and thecdtured, and be was himself a just and righteous sovereign, and a man of light and sweetness. He invited the illustrious Persian poet Hafiz to his court His tomb is at Suuargaon (See pL 8 in J.A.S. 1874, p. 85.) 109 second named GtU , and the third named Lalah , to perform the last bathing ceremony. When God granted him recovery, consi¬ dering them auspicious he bestowed attentions on them more than before. The other maids from envy used to taunt them about the bathing, so that one day whilst the king was in a jolly mood, they related to him this affair. The king recited the following line— “ Cup-bearer, this is the story of Sarv (the cypress) Gul (the Hose) and Lalah (the Tulip ”). The second line of the verse could not be supplied, and none of the poets attached to court could supply it. Then the king writing this line, sent it with an envoy to Shamsu-d-dtn Hafiz to Shiraz. Hafiz • quickly supplied the next line :— All_? h (“This story relates to the three bathers”). This 2ud line is not devoid of ingenious excellencies, and he sent also another ghazal in his name. The king in return bestowed on him voidable presents. These two lines are from that ghazal: — cA—A*a aijA JJL * 17 —*° * ** ^i * AlG y jj is yXyo JUU. (Translation). The parrots of Hindustan shall all be sugar- shedding Prom this Persian sugar-candy that goes forth to Bengal. Hafiz, from the yearning for the company *of Sultan Ghiasu- d-dln, Rest not; for thy (this) lyric is the outcome of lamentation. * Hafiz the renowned Persian poet of Shiraz died in 791 A.H. > Translation of first two lines by Jarret (See Ain p. 148 Vol. 2.) “ And now shall India's parroqnete on sugar revel all. In this sweet Persian Jyrio that is borne to far Bengal.” no In short, Sultan Ghiasu-d-din was a good ruler, and adhered strictly to the injunctions of the sacred law. For instance, it is related that one day whilst at arrow-shooting, the king’s arrow ac¬ cidentally hit a widow’s son. The widow sought for redress from Qazi Siraju-d-din. The Qazi was in anxiety; for if he shewed partiality towards the king, he would be held culpable before the tribunal of God, and if he did not do so, the summoning of the king would be a difficult affair. After much deliberation, he sent a peon to summon the king, and himself sat on the tribunal of justice, placing a whip underneath the masnad. When the Qazi’s peon reached the palace, finding access to the king impossible, he com¬ menced shouting out the call to prayer (Azau). The king heariug this untimely call to prayer, ordered the Muazzin (caller to prayer) to be brought to his presence. When the Royal servaufts carried the latter to the royal presence, the king enquired as to this un¬ timely call to prayer. He (peon) said: “Qazi Siraju-d-din has deputed me, in order that I may take the king to the tribunal of justice. Since access to the king was difficult, I adopted this device to obtain access. Now get up, and come to the tribunal The widow’s son whom you wounded with au arrow, is the com¬ plainant.” The king immediately got up, and concealing a small sword under his arm-pit, set out. When he appeared before the Qazi, the latter not at all paying attention to the king, said: “ Consolate the heart of this old woman.” The king consolated her in a way that he could, and said : “ Qazi, now the old woman is satisfied.” Then the Qazi turning to the old woman enquired, “ Have you received redress and been satisfied ? ” l’he woman said: “ Yes, I am satisfied.” Then the Qazi got up in great delight, and showing respect to the king, seated him on the mas- nod. The king drawing out the sword from his arm-pit said “ Qazi, in obedience to the injunctions of the sacred Law, I have appeared at your tribunal. If to-day I found you deviating by one hair-breadtb from adherence to the injunction ° f ^eLaw j, ed, that everything has been all-ng . Q j tsz rrr~ t - -— by the present English Criminal Procedure Law India. Ill Law, by God, with this very whip I should have tamed your back red and black ” 1 and added— “A calamity had come but has ended well.” The king, being pleased, bestowing gifts and presents on the Qazi, returned. The king from the beginning had great faith in the Saint Nur Qutubnl ‘Alam, and was his contemporary and fellow-student ; for both took their lessons from Shaikh Ham!du-d-din 2 Kunjna- shin Nagori. At length, in the year*775 A.H., by the stratagems of Kajah Kans who was a zemindar in that part, the king was treacherously killed. The reign of Ghiisu-d-din lasted seven years and some months, aud according to another account, it lasted sixteen years, five months and three days. 3 -o- REIGN OP SAIFU-D-DlN STYLED SULTANU-S-SALATlN.