Indian Antiquary Vol 49

SR No.: 032541
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 252
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 34 MB

Page 187

Oct., 1920)
HISTORY OF THE NIZAM SHAHI KINGS OF AHMADNAGAR
183
and rewarded him by giving him two horses, an Arab and a Turki. Burhân Nizâm Shâh then obtained leave to depart and returned to his own camp, but Shah Tâhir stayed in the assembly for a short time after his departure and Sultân Bahůdur said to him, "I dismissed Burhån Nigam Shah thus early lest fear should enter his mind." Shah Tahir replied, "His Majesty has never in any juncture known fear, nor does he know it now, but out of respect to the royal assembly he would not speak unceremoniously." Sultan Bahadur then asked whether His Majesty Nizam Shah could play polo, and Shâh Tâhir replied that whenever Sultan Bahadur took a fancy to see a game of polo, he would see that Burhan Nigam Shah excelled all the soldiers and horsemen of the world in soldierly accomplishments, horsemanship, and boldness. Sultân Bahadur then asked him to tell Burhan Nizam Shah that he would go out early the next morning to amuse himself by watching some polo and that Burhan Niyâm Shah should also come out and watch the play of the valiant men. Shảh Tâhir then took his leave, hastened to the presence of Burhan Nigam Shah, and told him what had passed between himself and Sultan Bahadur, saying that Sultan Bahadur's object was to make trial of him, and advising him to disregard etiquette and to join manfully in the game and to do his best.
Early the next morning Sultan Bahůdur rode out towards the open plain, and Burhan Nizam Shah algo, mounting his horse, rode out with a band of his warriors towards the plain. Here the two parties met and played polo. Burhan Nizam Shah distinguished himself above all others in the game, so that all spectators applauded, and Sultan Bahadur and all his warriors were astonished at his quickness, dexterity and boldness, and dąsh, and, withdraw. ing from the game, watched him in admiration, praising and applauding him loudly.
When the game was over, both Sultân Bahadur and Burhån Nizam Shah went to the former's camp and Sultan Bahadur ordered his attendants to bring forth abundant gifts, cash, goods, horses, elephants, and whatever else might be worthy of the acceptance of Burhan Nigam Shah. Those were produced by Sultan Bahadur's order and were presented to Burhan Nigam Shah, who then asked for leave to depart. Sultan Bahadur embraced him and gave him permission to depart, and he returned to his own camp. After his departure, Sultan Bahadur summoned his singers and ordered them to go to Burhan Nizam Shah's camp and delight him with their singing, and also to make trial of him and see whether he was of ready understanding and quick in the uptake. They obeyed the order, and when they sange Burhan Nigam Shah put questions to them and made apt interpolations in each couplet and each song that they sang; and the singers were astonished at the quickness of his wit and loudly praised him. He then gave them numerous presents and dismissed them. When the singers returned to Sultan Bahadur's camp, they were loud in their praises of the ready wit and the generosity of Burhân Nigam Shah. So much did they dilate on them that some of the courtiers rebuked them and told them that it was both disrespectful and foolish to praise another than their master so extravagantly for wit and generosity. But Sultân Bahadur acted justly and said that the singers spoke the truth, and that Burhân Nizam Shah excelled him both in understanding and generosity, for his own language was much the same o that of Gwalior, in which the poetry was written, while the language of the Dakan did not so much resemble that of Gwalior, and that his own treasure far exceeded that of Burhån Nigam Shah. Therefore, he argued, Burhan Nizam Shåh's understanding every song and every couplet as it was sung, and his generosity in giving the great gifts which he had bestowed, though his treasure was but small, were sufficient proofs of the quick understandng and great generosity of that great and most generous king. .