________________
NOVEMBER, 1899.]
HISTORY OF THE BAHMANI DYNASTY.
279
Khwajah Jahân and Sikandar Khân, who were with the centre of the army in attendance on the Sultan, saw the flight of the army, and taking the Sultan with them proceeded to Bidar. Sultan Mahmûd from excessive fear and amazement did not move from his place, but fell into this reflection :- "The army of the Dakhan are practising a stratagem : they have placed a force in ambush and pretend to run away, so that when we pursue them they may surround us; otherwise why should the army fly after gaining the victory P"
At midnight the amirs brought Sultan Nizam Sbab into the city of Bidar ; and next day when the sun rose, Makhdumah Jahân, the mother of the Sultan (who through fear of Humayun Shâh had fled to Rayachûr, but now - encouraged by a royal written agreement - had returned to court), gave orders for the defence of the fortress of Bidar, and appointed Nizâm-ul-Mulk also to assist her. Then taking the Sultan with her, led the whole force to Firůzâbâd Kalburga.
Sultan Mahmûd waited three days in the same place till he was assured of the real fight of the Dakhani army. After that he marched to Bidar and eneamped within sight of the city, and proceeded to plunder and devastate the city and distriet. He razed to the ground the houses of the nobility and inhabitants ; so that both the great and small of that country recited the takbir of death over their household goods and habitations, and lost all their money and effects.
The enemy's army surrounded the citadel and laid siege to it.
From olden times -as has been formerly mentioned - the foundations of mutual friendship had been firmly laid between the Bahmani dynasty and the Sultâns of Gujarât ; so in this interval Makhdûmah Jahân, who was the most sensible woman of her day, wrote a letter to Sultan Mahmad, king of Gujarat, complaining of the tyranny and oppression of her enemies, and sent it by the hand of an eloquent messenger imploring assistance from the Musalmans of that country. 12
When Soltan Mahmûd heard this news he resolved to proeeed to the Dakhan to repel the tyrant Mahmûd Khilji; but his nobles and ministers expostulated with bim, saying: -"Di úd Khân who had possessed the sovereignty for a week is still lying in wait, and though this is the third year of Your Majesty's reign your rule is still not as firmly eetablished throughout the country as it should be, nor have the important affairs of government been furthered as niuch as could be desired; therefore at such a time as this to leave the sent of government, and for the benefit of others to go on a campaign is a matter for serious consideration."
Sultan Mahmud, though still in the flower of youth, replied to the axirs in elegant language: - "God is with him who is with God, and to assist Musalmans and friends is praiseworthy and necessary, for the regulation of the affairs of the world and of mankind is founded upon concord; and it is certain that if the heavens and the elements did not agree with one another and join together in this manner, the organization of the universe would be annihilated ; and if the race of men were to break the chain of mutant assistance and reciprocity the foundations of the laws of Nature would be overthrown....."
When Sultan Mahmûd had ended this manly discourse and had inspired his people with manliness and bravery, after expressing their regret to the Sultan for their anworthy thoughts they changed their minds and said :- "If there is no help for it but to send an army into the Dakhan, the best course seems to be to enter the kingdom of Malwâ, and so cause anxiety to the mind of the Khiljis : by this means you will not have to travel so far from yonr own territory, and if (which Heaven forefend !) any disturbance should arise in this country, you: will be able to return quickly to quell it. By this plan assistance to Salân Nizam Shah will also be assured, for when Sultan Mahmûd Khilji shall hear of your advance towards his territory, he will quit the Dakhan and hurry back to his own kingdom."
u Vide Bayley. Gujardt, pp. 175-6, and Mir,dt-i Sikandari, litho, ed., p. 90.
