Indian Antiquary Vol 51

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

Page 244

236
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
DECEMBER, 1922
that Khudavand Khin gone to Sayyid Murtaza and placed his services at his disposal they all hastened to follow his example, and assembled before the town of Balapúr where they were invested with the royal Khal'ats by Sayyid Murtaza and, at the instigation of Khudávand Khan, renesed their engagements with Sayyid Murtaza, agreeing to join him in opposing Salâbat Khan and to consider how the latter could best be overthrown before he could perfcet plans against which they would be unable to contend.
It was now the rainy season, and it rained heavily daily, from morning until evening, so that movements of troops were not to be thought of. The amirs therefore, after consulting together, decided to disperse to their own districts and there to employ themselves in pre. paring their forces for war, so that when Canopus should rise and the rains should cease they might march with one accord against those who starred up strife in the kingdom.
When Şalábat Khân heard of the confederacy of the amirs and of the renewal of the bond between them he was much perturbed and took counsel with his intimates as to the best means of meeting this difficulty.
At this time the king expressed a desire to visit the palace and garden of Abmadnagar, which was known as Baghdad, and on Safar 2, A.. 992 (Feb. 14, 1584) he left the old garden of the watercourse in which he had lived in complete retirement for nearly twelve years, as some say, for the citadel of Ahmadnagar and inspected the palace and buildings of the city. The king had never seen the beautiful garden known as the watercourse of Ni'mat Khân, since its completion, and he therefore turned to it, to inspect it. It so happened that the water channel which conveyed water to that garden and garden house had burst and flooded the whole garden and the king remained no longer than one night in that d.elling, but went on to the garden of the 'Ibadatkhâna, which was one of the buildings of his reign. There he stayed for nearly a week, and thence he went on to the village of Manjaresna situate in a valley full of beautiful springs and covered with verdure, with fountains springing from the green hill side. Salábat Khân had artificial tanks formed both in the valley and on the hill tops, and in them fountains played, and the tanks were surrounded by beautiful buildings. Without exaggeration the village is one of the best worthseeing in the world and there can be few so pleasant in the world.265
The king, after enjoying himself both bodily and spiritually in this place, returned to Ahmadnagar and having completed his tour of all the fine buildings and gardens around the capital, turned his attention to sensual pleasures and inquired after several of the atten. dants of the haram. He then ordered the dancing girls of the city to be sent for, and some were selected for the royal service; among them one named Tulji, who was one of the most beautiful women in the world, and bold and alluring, and who was distinguished above her fellows by the receipt of special marks of the royal favour.
At this time Şalábat Khân entirely deprived Asad Khân of all power in the administration and became absolute. When the royal command that the prince of the age 266 should remain in the village of Patori was issued, Sal&bat Khân placed Nasira, one of his own trusted servanta, in charge of the gate of Ahmadnagar and used occasionally to travel backwards and forwards between the city and Patori.
365 According to Firishta it was on receipt of the news that Sayyid Murtad was again marching to attack him, early in 1584, that BalAbat Khan removed the king from the Bdgh-i-Hashs Bihisht first to the Bagh-1-Fara, Bakhah and afterwards to the Bagledad palace, where he provided him with a companion to amuse him and keep him oooupied.-F. ii. 282.
366 Burban-ud-din, afterwards Burhan Nigm Shah II.