Indian Antiquary Vol 28

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 80

66
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MARCH, 1899.
and whom the Prophet pronounced to be the Gate of the Hall of knowledge. I pray also to the other six ministers, and to the two grandsons of the Prophet who are Princes of the Watchmen in Heaven. May I obtain the blessing of the Prophet's danghter, of all the Prophets, of all the Shahids, of all the illustrions Shekhs in Baghdad and Ajmer, and of all the true followers of the Prophet. May the everlasting and changeless God direct towards me the blessings of all these illnstrious med. Oh God! Who existed before all created things, whose existence knows no end, I possess none of the educational qualifications proper to a poet: mayst Thou enlarge my narrow intellectual vision !
The author of this poem is the celebrated Nizamu'ddin, learned in "Hanur."
In the country of Ajmor, in the north-west of India, there lived a great king, Mahasil, by name. He was very powerful, many kings were tributary to him, and he had countless subjects; his fortresses and strongholds were idrunnerable. But mention of all particulars of the kind would make my story too long, so they are omitted.
Now the king had a faithful minister of wide-world fame, called Mas Amir, who was in great sorrow because that he was childless. One day an astrologer came before him, and he addressed him thus:-“ Oh astrologer! tell me my fortune. I suffer terribly because of my childlessness, My wife and I have had no issne. Death may overtake us at any time, and if we have no child, who will inherit our property Thought of this makes my heart burn. Tell me now whether we are destined to have a child or not."
The astrologer asked the name of the star (planet?) under which the minister was born and, having examined his horoscope, said :-"Oh most gracious minister! There is not any doubt that before long God will bless you with a beautiful son; put away your anxiety and rejoice, for the son to be born to you will become a hapry king over many countries. You must call him Badaru'l-Munir, which means "the full moon." He will be victim to many misfortunes and fall into great dangers, but he will get free from them all, and obtain as his wives the most beautiful women."
The minister was much pleased to hear what the astrologer said, and gave him large presente.
In course of time the minister's wife gave birth to a handsome and intelligent boy. King Mahasil came to see the child, and was struck with wonder at its loveliness. As advised by. the astrologer the child was called Badaru'l-Munir. Then the king and his retinue departed. The child grew up the delight of all. When he was three years old a daughter was burn to the king. She grew up so beautiful and so lovely, that she was a wonder to all beholders, and she was called Hasanu'l-Jamal, which means “ The most beantiful." The minister's son and the king's daughter grew up together, they played together, and they were taught by the same teachers. They advanced in years and in knowledge, and at length began to feel love for each other. By day and by night they were in each other's company. The beauty of the girl when she was ten years old cannot be described. Her hair was darker than the black clouds and more shining than the wings of the beetle, and when untied reached the sole of her foot; when tied up it was of wonderful beauty. Her forehead was arched and narrow; her eyebrowo were like the rain. bow or the half moon; her eyes were black - as if blackened by eye-salve; her teeth were small, and white like the seeds of the pomegranate; her tongue was like the petals of the red water-lilly; her lips were of the colour of the red coral : her face was like the lotus. She was the first fruit of the tree of gold. Her neck was more graceful than the deer's ; her breasts, round at their base, were like blossoms of the jasmine. They were like two golden cups, as the knobs on the head of a caparisoned elephant; they were of full size, without flaw, of never-fading beauty; and yet, only a handful, Her waist was very slender, about her thighs she was fleshy, and her egs were like the plantain tree. Her feet were like gold. She bad every grace, every,
(Mahavil - Mabaftia, a pure Hindi name. Obsorve also the subversion of the sexes throughout in the 1kmes Badaru'l-Muntr and Hasenu'l-Jamál. -ED.) • Perhaps "the waning moon," favourite simile, is meant.
• A favourite simile,