Indian Antiquary Vol 38

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

Page 33

FEBRUARY, 1909.)
THE CHUHAS, OR RAT-CHILDREN OF THE PANJAB.
29
In his extremity under torture Shah Daula declared that he had buried the money and would dig it up again if released from prison. He was led to the tosha-khana where he at once seized a dagger from a niche and plunged it into his belly. This act put the fear of the authorities into the Qanungos who sent for a skilful physician, who bound up the wound, from which Shah Daula recovered in three months.
The Qanungos then set him free and he went to Sangrohf, & village near Sialkot, where he became a disciple of the saint, Shah Saidän Sarmast. Shah Daula now ingratiated himself with one Mangų or Mokhú, the saint's favorite disciple, and spent his time as a mendicant. The scraps he secured as the proceeds of his begging were placed before the saint, who ate all he wanted and passed the remainder on to Mangů. After Mangu was satisfied, the small portion that remained was given to Shah Daula, whose hunger was rarely appeased. But such poor earnings in kind failed to satisfy the saint, who set Shah Daula to work and earn money, with which cooked food might be bought, as a substitute for the stale scraps received as alms.
At that time a new fort was being built at Sialkot out of bricks from the foundation of some old buildings, and Shah Daula was sent to dig as an ordinary labourer at a takd or two pice & square yard of brick work dug np. So hard was the material that most powerful men could not excavate more than two or three square yards in a day, but Shah Daula worked with such amazing energy that he dug up seventy square yards on the first day and separated the bricks. The officials, recognising superhuman aid, offeted bim seventy takds, or full payment for his work, without demur, but he would only accept four.
With the four takde thus acquired, he bought a favoury dish of khichi, which he presented to the saint, before whom he was inclined to boast of his powers. But the saint showed him his own hands, all blistered with the invisible aid he had been rendering to Shah Daula. As a mark of favour, however, the saint gave him some of the khichri, which produced such excruciating pain in the second finger of his right-hand on his commencing to eat it, that for days he could neither sleep nor rest, and at last asked the saint to relieve him. Mangů also interceded and at last the saint told Shih Daula to go to the Butchers' Street and thrust his hand into the bowels of a freshlyslaughtered cow. As soon as he had done this there was immediate relief and he fell into a deep sleep for twenty-four hours; but on awakening he found that the finger had dropped off! He returned, however, to the saint and thanked him for his kindness, whereon the saint said
"Man, thus much of self-love hadst thou, but it has gone from thee now and love for others only remains. Be of good cheer. Thou art proven worthy of my favour, and of the knowledge of God."
For twelve years Shảh Daula remained in the service of the saint, Shah Saidán Sarmast, who was faqir of the Soharwardt sect. At the end of the twelfth year the saint saw that his own end was approaching and asked who was near him. The reply was, "Daula," but the saint told him to go and fetch Mokhů, i.e., his favorite Mangů. But Mangû refused to come as it was night.
Thrice Daula went and thrice Mangû refused. The saint then remained silent for a while, but towards morning he roused himself and said: "God gives to whomsosver he will." He then made over his dalg (faqir's coat) to Daula, and when the latter said that he knew Mangu would not let him keep it, the saint said "Let him keep it who can lift it." . And so he gave the dalg into Shah Daula's keeping, gave him his blessing also, and died.
When the day broke it became known that the saint was dead, and Mokhû and all the other disciples took their parts in the funeral ceremonies. They then attempted to seize the holy dalg, which fell to the ground. Each in turn tried to lift it and then they tried all together, but it would not move until Daula grasped it with one hand, shook it and put it on, thus proving his right to the name and title, by which he has always been known, of Shab Daula.