Having been released from prison by the consent of his uncles Sulān Nāṣiru-d-Dīn Maḥmūd and Sulān Jalālu-d-Dīn, the sons of Sulān Shamsu-d-Dīn Iyaltimish, became king at the end of the year already mentioned (639 H.), after that ‘Izzu-d-Dīn Balban* (the elder) had occupied the throne for one day and had issued a proclamation. None of the Maliks or Amīrs had been satisfied with this arrangement and reverted to Sulān ‘Alāu-d-Dīn, and appointed Malik Qubu-d-Dīn Ḥasan as Deputy, and Malik Muhaẕẕabu-d-Dīn Niāmu-l-Mulk Wazīr of the kingdom, and in the year 640 H. the Amīrs of Sulān ‘Alāu-d-Dīn Mas‘ūd put to death Niāmu-l-Mulk the Wazīr.

One should not desire brief kingship like that of the rose
For a torrent speedily breaks down a bridge.

The Wazīrship was conferred upon Ṣadru-l-Mūlk Najmu-d-Dīn Abū Bakr, and Malik Ghiyāu-d-Dīn Balban the younger who had at first been called Ulugh Khān and afterwards attained the dignity of Sulān,* became Amīr Ḥājib and in succession to him ^88. the governorship of Nāgor and Sind and Ājmīr was conferred permanently upon Malik ‘Izzu-d-Dīn Balban, the elder, Budāon was conferred upon Malik Tāju-d-Dīn; and in this year ‘Izz-ud-Dīn Tughā Khān who had advanced from Karrah* to the neighbour­hood of Lakhnautī sent Sharfu-l-Mulk Asha‘rī to the Sulān ‘Alāu-d-Dīn with a written despatch, the Sulān then sent a red canopy and a special robe of honour in charge of the Governor of Ondh* for ‘Izzu-d-Dīn Tughā Khān who was in Lakhnautī, and having brought both his uncles aforementioned out of confinement, assigned the district of Qanauj to Malik Jalālu-d-Dīn, and Bahrāij to Malik Nāṣiru-d-Dīn Maḥmūd, who acquitted them­selves in those districts to his satisfaction. And in the year 642 H, the Mughūl forces* arrived in the district of Lakhnautī, the assumption is that the Mughūls must have come by way of Tibat and Khiā, and Sulān ‘Alāu-d-Dīn sent Tīmūr Khān Qarā Beg* to the assistance of Tughā Khān and the Mughūls were defeated. Hostility arose between Tughā Khān and Malik Qīrān,* Tughā Khān came to Dehlī, and Lakhnautī remained in the hands of Tīmūr Khān.*

In this year the Mughūl army* arrived in the vicinity of Uchh and assaulted it, and the Sulān proceeding by forced marches with all possible speed, reached the banks of the river Biāh, and the Mughūls raising the siege of Uchh took to flight; the Sulān on reaching Delhī took to arresting and putting to death to such an extent that the Amīrs and nobles turned against him, and agreed to summon Malik Nāṣiru-d-Dīn Maḥmūd ibn Shamsu-d-Dīn from Bahrāij, and upon his arrival at Delhī in the year 644 H, they threw Sulān ‘Alāu-d-Dīn Mas‘ūd into prison and he speedily* exchanged that confinement for the prison house of eternity.

This is the way of the changeable world.
In kindness it gives and it robs you in wrath.

^89. The duration of his reign was four years and one month.