“When you shall ascend the throne,” said he,
“consider yourself as the deputy of God. Have
“a just sense of the importance of your charge.
“Permit not any meanness of behaviour in your-
“Let your passions be governed by reason, and
“beware of giving way to anger. Anger is dan-
“Let the public treasure be expended in the “service of the state with that prudent economy, “yet benevolent liberality, which reason will “dictate to a mind like yours, ever intent on “doing good.
“Let the worship of God be inculcated by your “example, and never permit vice and infidelity to “go unpunished.
“Be ever attentive to the business of the state,
“that you may avoid being imposed on by de-
“Let your judges and magistrates be men of “capacity, religion, and virtue, that the light of “justice may illuminate your realms.
“Let no levity on your part, either in public or “private, detract from that important majesty “which exalts the character of a king; and let “every thing around you be so regulated as to “inspire that reverence and awe which will render “your person sacred, and contribute to enforce “respect to your commands.
“Spare no pains to discover men of genius,
“learning, and courage. You must cherish them
“by kindness and munificence, that they may
“prove the soul of your councils, and the in-
“Throw not down a great man to the ground “for a small crime, nor yet entirely overlook his “offence. Raise not a low man too hastily to a “high station, lest he forget himself, and be an “eye-sore to men of superior merit.
“Never attempt any thing, unless through ne-
Having ended his instructions he embraced his
son tenderly, and parted with him in tears. The
Prince immediately marched against the enemy,
and having expelled, with great slaughter, the
Moguls who had invaded his province, recovered
all the territories of which they had possessed
themselves in his absence. The throne of Persia
was at this time filled by Arghoon Khan, the son
of Eibuk Khan, and grandson of Hoolakoo Khan,
who had conquered that empire about the year
656. Teimoor Khan,
*
of the family of Chun-
Both armies drew up in order of battle, and
attacked each other with great spirit for the space
of three hours, during which time both commanders
were eminently distinguished. The Moguls
being at last put to flight, the Indians followed
them with too much eagerness. The Prince Ma-
At this time a Mogul chief, who had concealed himself with two thousand horse in a neighbouring wood, rushed upon his party. The Prince had only just time to mount, and collecting his small band, encouraged them by his example. They defended themselves desperately; but at length the Prince, overpowered by numbers, and having received several wounds (after having thrice obliged the Moguls to give ground), fell, and in a few minutes expired. A detachment of the Indian army appearing that instant, the Moguls took to flight. Few of the Prince's party survived this unfortunate conflict. Among those who fell into the hands of the Moguls was the Prince's favourite and tutor, Ameer Khoosrow, who procured his liberty in the way mentioned in his poem entitled Khizr Khany.
When the army returned from the pursuit of Teimoor Khan, and beheld their Prince weltering in his blood, the shouts of victory were changed to wailings of woe. Not a dry eye was to be seen from the meanest soldier to the general. The fatal news reached the old King, now in his eightieth year, who was so much distressed, that life became irksome to him; but bearing up against his misfortune, he sent Kei Khoosrow, his grandson (the son of the deceased), to supply the place of his father. On his arrival at Mooltan, this Prince took the command of the army, and began to provide for the defence of the frontier.
The King, perceiving himself fast sinking from the weight of his affliction, sent for his son Kurra Khan from Bengal, and appointed him his successor; at the same time insisting, that he should continue with him at Dehly till his death, and appoint a deputy for his government of Bengal. To this Kurra Khan consented; but conceiving his father's illness was not likely to come so soon to a crisis as he expected, he returned to Bengal without acquainting him of his intention. This undutiful behaviour threw the old man into the deepest grief, and induced him to send for his grandson, Kei Khoosrow, from Mooltan. The Prince hastening to his presence, a council of the nobles was called, and the succession was changed in his favour, all of the officers promising to enforce Gheias-ood-Deen Bulbun's last will, in favour of this young Prince. The King, in a
A. H. 685.
A.D. 1286.
few days, expired, in the year 685, after
a reign of 21 years. Immediately upon
the death of the Emperor, Mullik Fukhr-
In the glorious reign of Gheias-ood-Deen Bulbun, there flourished at Dehly, besides the great men we have already mentioned, the learned and celebrated Sheikh Fureed-ood-Deen Musaood, entitled Shukurgunj; Sheikh Baha-ood-Deen Zacharia, and his son; also Sheikh Budr-ood-Deen Aarif of Ghizny, the philosopher; the learned and holy Kootb-ood-Deen Bukhtyar Kaky; Siddy Mowla, and many more, eminent in various branches of science and literature.