Muhammad Kásim then entered the gate. All the citizens had come to the temple of Nau-vihár,* and were prostrating themselves and worshipping the idol. Muhammad Kásim asked what house it was, that all the great men and the nobles were kneeling before it, and making prostrations. He was told that it was a temple called Nau-vihár. Muhammad Kásim ordered the door of the temple to be opened, and he saw an image mounted on a horse. He went in with his officers, and found that it was made of hard stone, and that golden bracelets, ornamented with rubies and other precious stones, were on its hands. Muhammad Kásim stretched out his hand and took off one of the bracelets. He then called the keeper of the temple of Budh Nau-vihár, and said, “Is that your idol?” He replied, “Yes; but it had two bracelets, and now it has only one.” Muhammad Kásim said, “Does not your god know who has got his bracelet?” The keeper hung down his head. Muhammad Kásim laughed, and gave back the bracelet to him, and they replaced it on the hand of the idol.
Muhammad Kásim ordered that if the military bowed their heads in submission they should not be killed. Ládí said “the people of this country are chiefly workmen, but some are merchants. The city is inhabited and its land cultivated by them, and the amount of the taxes will be realized from their earnings and tillage if the tribute is fixed on each person.” Muhammad Kásim said, “Rání Ládí has ordered this,” and he gave protection to all.
It is related by the historians, that from amongst the people who were given up to the executioners to be put to death, a person came forward and said, “I have a wonderful thing to show.” The executioner said, “Let me see it.” He said, “No, I will not show it to you, but to the commander.” This was reported to Muhammad Kásim, and he ordered him to be brought before him. When he came, he asked him what wonder he had to show. The man said it was a thing which nobody had yet seen. Muhammad Kásim said, “Bring it.” The Brahman replied, “If you grant my life, and that of all and every of my relations, family, and children.” Muhammad Kásim said, “I grant it.” He then asked him for a written and express promise under his gracious signature. Muhammad Kásim thought that he would produce some precious gem or ornament. When a strict promise was made, and the written order was in his hand, he pulled his beard and whiskers, and spread out the hairs; then he placed his toes at the back of his head and began to dance, repeating this saying, “Nobody has seen this wonder of mine. The hairs of my beard serve me for curls.” Muhammad Kásim was surprised at this. The people who were present said, “What wonder is this for which he wishes to be pardoned? He has deceived us.” Muhammad Kásim replied, “‘A word is a word, and a promise is a promise.’ ‘To belie oneself is not the act of a great man.’ ‘Know that he who retracts is a treacherous man.’ ‘See how a (true) man observes his promise.’ ‘If a person fulfil his words, he is more exalted than you can conceive.’ We must not kill him, but we will send him to prison, and report the case to Hajjáj for his decision.” Accordingly the execution of that man and of twenty-two of his relations and dependants was postponed, and a report of the case was written to Hajjáj, who asked the learned men of Kúfa and Basra to pronounce their opinions. A report was also sent to 'Abdu-l Malik, the Khalífa of the time. The answer which came from the Khalífa and the learned men was, that such a case had already occurred among the friends of the Prophet—may peace be to him. God says, “He is a true man who fulfils his promise in God's name.” When the answer to this effect came, the man was liberated with all his dependants and relations.
It is related by the great and principal men, that when Jaisiya, with seven hundred men, foot and horse, reached the fort of Kúraj,* the chief of that place came forth to receive him. He showed him much attention, and inspired his hopes by great promises. He told him that he would assist him against the Muhammadans. It was customary with Darohar* Ráí to take one day's holiday in every six months, drink wine with women, hear songs, and see dancing. No stranger was admitted to be one of the company. It happened that on the day Jaisiya arrived Darohar Ráí was celebrating this festival. He sent a person to Jaisiya to say that on that day he was in privacy, and no stranger could come to his chamber; but as he (Jaisiya) was a very dear guest, and was regarded by him as his son, he might attend. Jaisiya bent down his head, and drawing lines on the earth did not look at the women. Darohar told him that they might be regarded as his (Jaisiya's) mother and sisters; he might lift up his head and look. Jaisiya said, “I am originally a monk, and I do not look at any woman who is a stranger. Darohar then excused him from looking, and praised his self-restraint and modesty. It is narrated, that when the women came round him, there was among them the sister of Darohar, whose name was Jankí, that is, beautiful, and she was lovely. She was a woman of royal descent, and possessed of great charms. She was elegant in stature as the juniper tree, generous in disposition, her words were like a string of pearls, her eyes handsome, and her cheeks like tulips or rubies. When she saw him, love for Jaisiya took hold of her heart. She looked at him every moment, and made love to him by her gestures. When Jaisiya went away, Jankí, the sister of Darohar, arose and went to her house. She had a litter prepared, in which she seated herself, and ordering her maid-servants to carry it, she proceeded to Jaisiya's dwelling. There she alighted from the litter and went in. Jaisiya had gone to sleep, but when the smell of wine, which proceeded from Jankí, penetrated his brain, he awoke, and saw Jankí sitting beside him. He rose up and said, “Princess, what has brought you here? What time is this for you to come here?” She replied, “Foolish fellow; there is no necessity to ask me about this. Would a young and beautiful woman come in the very dark of the night to visit a prince like you; would she rouse him from sweet slumber, and wish to sleep with him, but for one purpose; particularly a beauty like me, who has seduced a world with her blandishments and coquetry, and made princes mad with desire? You must know well and fully my object, for how can it remain concealed from you? Take advantage of this success till morning.” Jaisiya said, “Princess, I cannot consort with any other woman than my own lawful and wedded wife; nor ought such a thing to be done by me, because I am a Brahman, a monk, and a continent person, and this act is not worthy of great, learned, and pious men. Beware lest you defile me with so great a crime.” Although she importuned him much, he would not accede to her wishes, and struck the hand of denial on the tablet of her breast.
When Jankí was disappointed, she said, “Jaisiya, you have deprived me of the delights and raptures I anticipated. Now have I determined to destroy you, and to make myself the food of fire.” She then retired to her house, and covered herself with her clothes. Having closed the door, she tossed about on her bed till day-break, and was uttering these couplets:—“Your love and your charms have burnt my heart.” “The light of your beauty has illumined my soul.” “Give me justice or I will weep.” “I will burn myself, you, and the city together.” The next day, although the king of the stars had raised his head from the bastions of the heavens, and tore up the coverlid of darkness, Jankí was still asleep. The fumes of wine and the effects of separation mingled together, and she remained lying till late, with her head covered with her bedclothes. King Darohar would take no breakfast, and drink no wine, till his sister Jankí showed her face. He always paid her much honour and respect. So he rose and went to his sister's apartments, and found her overwhelmed with care and melancholy. He said, “O, sister! O princess, what has come over thee, that thy tulip-coloured face is changed and turned pale?” Jankí replied, “Prince, what stronger reason can there be than this—That fool of Sind surely saw me in the gay assembly. Last night he came to my house, and called me to him. He wanted to stain the skirt of my continence and purity, which has never been polluted with the dirt of vice, and to contaminate my pious mind and pure person with the foulness of his debauchery, and so bring my virgin modesty to shame, The king must exact justice for me from him, so that no reckless fellow may hereafter attempt such perfidy and violence.” The fire of anger blazed out in Darohar, but he told his sister that Jaisiya was their guest, and moreover a monk and a Brahman, who was connected with them. He had come to ask assistance; and was accompanied by one thousand warriors. He could not be killed. He was not to be destroyed by force; “but,” said he, “I will contrive some plot to slay him. Arise and take your morning meal. As no crime has been committed no open threats can be made.”