THE author of this work was Harnám Singh, a Sarsuti Bráhmin. He was born at Bráhmanábád, in the province of Láhore, and resided at Maláwanur, near Lucknow. His father was Gurdás Singh, who, having been in public employ under the Nawábs of Oudh, is the frequent subject of mention and eulogy in the latter part of this History.

In the opening of this work the author proceeds like a Musulmán to “invoke thousands of blessings upon the most exalted Prophet, the bestower of mercy in the world, the last of all the prophets, he who carried his steed to the field of the ninth heaven, the messenger of God the Creator, Muhammad the chosen, may the blessings of God be upon him, and peace upon all his descendants and friends!”

The author states that from his earliest youth he was a lover of historical studies, and used to devote his leisure hours to writing accounts of Kings, Rájas, and Nobles of the various provinces of Hindústán; but as his circumstances were as embarrassed and perplexed as the loose notes he had taken, he was not able to collect them into a book, till he had been honoured by the patronage of Sa'ádat 'Alí, after whom he denominates his work Sa'ádat-i Jáwed—“Eternal Bliss.”

His dedication is more than usually eulogistic, and we may guess the extent of his gratitude from his speaking of his patron in the following extravagant rhapsody:—“One under whose government the name of tyranny and oppression is erased from the page of the world, and before (the mention of) whose generosity the book of Hátim is put aside. The sun of whose bounty shines from east to west, and the fame of whose general benevolence has reached throughout the whole world. From the drops of whose liberality the garden of the world is always green, and from the stream of whose munificence the orchards of the hopes of all nations are perpetually fresh. From the fear of whose spear the lion crouches near the deer, and the blow of whose sharp sword shortens the life of cruel savages. The clouds of whose generosity rain equally over the rich and the poor, and the ocean of whose bounty benefits the great and the small alike. One who is so liberal that the revenue of the seven regions of the earth does not suffice for one day of his expenditure, and so great that the height of Saturn and 'Ayyúk is not equal to that of his palace. One from whose birth the Muhammadan world became exalted, and from whose hospitality the fame of 'Alí is increased. One who in establishing Islám has shown himself a great warrior, and in promulgating the true faith is as firm and immovable as the Polar Star. One who resembles Aristotle in wisdom, and whose mind is devoted to the welfare of his subjects. One who is equal to Sikandar in prosperity, and who by his conquests has subjugated the whole world—the Rustam of the Age, the Hátim of the time, a Kisrá in justice, Bahrám in attack, destroyer of the foundation of infidelity and idolatry,* establisher of Islám and the Moslems, possessing a prudence like that of Plato: the chief of all the great men of the world, the sun of all the re­nowned nobles, the theatre of the miracles of God, and the achiever of endless victories, the great wazír Nawáb Yamínu-d daula Nizámu-l Mulk Mubáriz Jang Sa'ádat 'Alí Khán—may God ever increase his prosperity and wealth!

“A minister who protected the world by his equity and justice;
Master of the sword, and possessed of a noble disposition;
The most fortunate, brave and just;
One who like the sun gives gold to the world.
A brave man who can overcome a tiger, and catch a lion;
In strength and courage has no one equal to himself;

When he gives, he is a second Hátim;
At the time of battle, he is another Rustam;
Through his justice the heads of proud tyrants are bowed down;
All his works are readily and expeditiously done.
From the excess of his liberality, bounty, and generosity,
He makes an impression upon the sun and moon, as a die on a
diram.
If I were to speak of his justice,
The story of Naushírwán would sink into oblivion.
The heavens before his greatness bow down their heads.
The foundation of violence is entirely rooted out.
If he gird up his loins in the field of battle,
Alarm will spread from India to Europe.
The whole country of Hindústán is obedient to him.
Nay, I am wrong, I mean the whole world, from one extremity to
the other.
The destiny of the heavens is conformable to his orders.
Victory adorns his flag.
Who has seen his equal in justice and generosity?
He is the greatest in all the world, and superior to all men of courage,
In strength like an elephant, and in bravery like a lion;
Bold in his heart, both in the cabinet and the field;
Head of all great men, and the crown of all the chiefs.
In the time of his government, O world, be happy!
If any person seeks protection from calamity,
He finds rest nowhere but in this country.
Come, oh Nánú!* shut your lips from speech,
Because his rank is too great.
If a book be written in his praise,
It would still be too small in the estimation of a wise man.
How can a particle of dust speak of the sun,
And what account will be taken of it, if it open its lips?
O God! keep this noble wazír for ever,
With all his ancient pomp, wealth and dignity.
May his shadow be preserved to cover the world!
May the heads of exalted nobles be his footstool!”

After this fulsome nonsense, we cannot expect much truth when he speaks of his benefactor; but the work is, nevertheless, useful for the biographical details which it gives of the Nobles who were most conspicuous in the history of India from the reign of Muhammad Sháh to the author's own time.

The precise date of composition is not given, but as Lord Lake's siege of Bhartpúr is mentioned, and Sa'ádat 'Alí was the reigning Nawáb of Oudh, the work must have been written between the years 1805 and 1814.

The Sa'ádat-i Jáwed is divided into four Books.