Indian Antiquary Vol 50

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 36

30
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
(FEB., 1921
Burhan Nizâm Shâh was in the habit of taking counsel with his amirs, ministers and officers of state before entering on any enterprise and in all matters of administration. His most intimate counsellors were Shah. Tahir, Kâmil Khân, Miyân Raja, Partab Râi, and some others. If any one of these happened to be absent when any matter was discussed, the arguments were, by the king's command, repeated to him by the other counsellors and he was called upon for his opinion. After Shah Tâhir's death I'tibâr Khân was admitted to the king's privy council.
Burhan Nizam Shah was very merciful, and in punishing wrong-doers, never acted hastily or without careful consideration. His forbearance was great, for many times 'Abdul Qilir, instigated by ill-disposed persons who hated the religion of the twelve Imâms, plotted against his life and sometimes even came to court with the intention of making an attempt on his father's life, but though all this was discovered to the king, he never made any attempt to seize and imprison the conspirators, but ignored them. He used, however, to tell Miran Shah Husain, in whom he had the greatest confidence, of this matter; and when he went to his private apartments to take his ease, Miran Shah Husain always mounted guard there, and whenever Abdul Qadir made any attempt to enter, he was frustrated by his elder brother.
Another of Burhan Nizam Shah's characteristics was his exact and methodical apportionment of his time, both for business and amusements. When he had finished his morning prayers, the jesters would appear, and the king would amuse himself for a while with them. Then he would dress, and the mahalldárs 126 would come, and he would continue to amuse himself with jesting until the councillors arrived. After sitting with his council. lors, he would mount his horse and ride forth and inspect the elephant stables, the stables, and the workshops, and would approve what was being done well and point out what was being done ill. He would then return and have his morning meal and would amuse himself the while with jesting. After the meal he would transact business of state, and decide cases. inquiring personally into all arlministrative and revenue matters, and also into all questions of holy law, with the help of the learned men who were present. Religious discussions often took place at court and the king often discussed ably on religious questions, so that the guests at this feast of reason and flow of soul found ample food provided. Learned men and disputants, officers in charge of departments, all assembled. The officers got the orders, which they had ready, past the signet and made their representations regarding them; the learned men held disputations, and musicians and singers of Hindustan and Khurasan enlivened both the ear and the wit by their music and songs. The king used to speak on all subjects in such wise that all who heard him were delighted, and he would put aside all ceremony. He would then retire for a short time to rest, and when he awoke, the musicians and singers would again be summoned and he would sit and listen to them and talk with them, and make interpolations in their songs, and jest with them. In the afternoon he would go to his prayers again, and when the lamps were lit, the courtiers, councillors, and officers of state again assembled, and until the fourth hour of the night were engaged in discussing and deciding affairs of state and in relating anecdotes and uttering witticisms. After these had been dismissed, the mimes were sometimes brought in, and the king would engage in discourse with them till ten o'clock. Sometimes again the camp boys would be brought in and set to wrestle with one another and to abuse one another, when they would use expressions which both delighted and astonished the king. At one, or two o'clock, the king would retiro to rest, and again, when the sun rose, the same round of duties and pleasures would follow,
13 Maraudārs wore either officers in charge of quarters of the city or Govemors of rural districte, probably, in this case, the former.