Whose name at the first was Ḥasan Barwabacha, in the
aforesaid year sat upon the throne of ‘Alāu-d-Dīn and Qubu-d-
Verse.Who was it had acquired the wealth,
Who was it squandered it?
still the hearts of great and small were not so attuned to this disloyalty and irreligion of his that he could bring them into harmony with his own.
And in the year 721 A.H. (1321 A.D.) Khusrū Khān put out the eyes of certain of the offspring of ‘Alāu-d-Dīn, for instance Abūbakr Khān, and ‘Alī Khān, and Bahādur Khān,* and gained over* certain of the Amīrs, such as ‘Ainul Mulk and some others.
The Hindūs gained ground and increased their influence in most of the provinces, and a torrent of destruction swept suddenly upon the followers of Islām and destroyed their wealth and property, giving their families to the wind of extinction.
The affair of the Ghuzz which had happened in the time of Sulān Sinjar* was forgotten, and the state of mankind was expressed by this verse—
Verse.You will never see your fellowmen happy save at the door
of death,
You will never find a virgin save in the womb of earth.
Khusrū Khān* issued firmāns to all the outlying districts and invited the people to side with him, he also bestowed upon Yūsuf 218. Ṣūfī Azlbacha* the title of Ṣūfī Khān while Ikhtiyāru-d-Dīn Sanbal was styled Ḥātim Khān. He also made Kamālu-d-Dīn Ṣūfī Wakīldar, and the son of Qurra Qumār ‘Ariẓu-l-Mulk; Malik Fakhru-d-Dīn Jūnā the son of Ghāzī Malik he appointed Ākhur Beg, and was especially desirous of gaining his good will, with the object of using his influence to induce Ghazī Malik also, who was one of the notable Amīrs of ‘Alāu-d-Dīn and was posted to oppose the Mughuls, to leave the frontiers of Dīpālpur and fall into his trap. At that time he put into effect every means he could devise and gave ‘Ainu-l-Mulk Multānī for a time the title of ‘Ālam Khān. At last having gained over Ghāzī Malik, he wrote a letter* expressing his sincerity of purpose, and desiring him when the day of battle should arrive to flee from Dihlī to his own country, that is Mālwa, and return when the danger had passed.*
And of the Amīrs, some sided with Khusrū Khān out of lust for place and property, but some others were rebellious. When Ghāzī Malik heard this startling news his zeal for Islām and for the preservation of the honour of his benefactor was stirred, so that he girded up his loins for vengeance, and sending despatches to the Maliks of the various districts sought their aid in extirpating that ungrateful wretch. Malik Fakhru-d-Dīn sent secretly a letter to his father conveying his intention to fly from Dihlī and asking for post horses,* which in the Hindī tongue are called ḍāk chaukī, and for the posting of cavalry escorts at several places along the route.
219. At last one night by the assistance of the Son of Bahrām Ība* the governor of Multān and Uchh* he fled from Dihlī with a party of horsemen and made his way by forced marches towards Dīpālpur.
Verse.Seated upon that fleet Burāq*
He hastened steadfastly with unity of purpose.
And Ghāzī Malik himself previously to this had sent two hundred cavalry into the fort of Sarsutī. When Khusrū Khān awoke from his slumber of neglect he recognized that the departure of Malik Fakhru-d-Dīn Jūnā was a strong proof of the decline of his own power:* accordingly he despatched the son of Qurra Qumār, whom he had appointed ‘Āriẓ-i-Mamālik,* in pursuit of him. He proceeded as far as the town of Sarsutī, but on his arrival there was obliged to retrace his steps without finding an opportunity of accomplishing his object, and conveyed to Khusrū Khān tidings regarding the real state of affairs.
Ghāẓī Malik, after the arrival of his son, was demonstrative* in his expressions of satisfaction, and gave effect to the aspirations of the Maliks; further by issuing orders for the commencement of the jihād* he made amends for the previous delay, and gave full satisfaction to the demands of bravery by marching in the direction of Dihlī.
Khusrū Khān having bestowed upon his brother Khān-i-Khānān
the canopy and staff of office, despatched Ṣūfī Khān with the
other Amīrs of this canaille against Ghazī Malik who for many
years had done yeoman's service in the various wars with the
Mughuls, and had everywhere returned victorious and triumphant.
But on the other hand Malik Bahrām Iba, the Governor of
Multān and Uchh, arrived to reinforce Ghāzī Malik. The two
armies selected as their field of battle a spot near the reservoir
of Thānesar.*
At the first onset the breeze of victory blew
favourably for the armies of Islām, the standards of the infidels
were overthrown, and the adherents of Khusrū Khān abandoning
their elephants and horses, and ammunition and standards
220. fled precipitately to Dihlī. Ghāzi Malik with all speed pursued
and scattered these ungrateful wretches*
and reached Dihlī in
one long march.*
Khusrū Khān having rallied his scattered and
panic stricken forces, opened the doors of the treasury and
gave his army three and four years' pay together with large
rewards and promises of appointments and governorships; and
things being as they were, he brought out from confinement in
the ḥaram the remainder of the princes of the family of ‘Alāu-d-
At the outset the army of Khusrū Khān obtained the mastery, and the army of Ghāzī Malik suffered a repulse, but Ghāzī Malik planting firmly the foot of resolution like another Rustum came to the rescue, and with three hundred cavalry, men of tried valour, whom he had kept in concealment in an ambush, utterly discomfited the infidel horde* and Malik Talbagha* Nāgor, and the son of Qurra Qumār* with the other nobles of that ignoble kingdom, in that battle became food for the sword,* as such hypocritical knaves should. Khusrū Khān brought to bear all temerity and manliness in spite of his unmanly character, and fought bravely till the close of the day, but* at last finding he was unable to withstand these lionhearted warriors, he turned 221. his back in flight, and made for Talpath; his canopy and standards and borrowed* retinue fell into the hands of Ghāzī Malik.
Khusrū Khān returning from Talpath came to the tomb of Malik Shādī* who was an old patron of his, alone and distraught, and hid himself there in despair, but the following day they laid hands upon him, treating him with all possible indignity, and brought him to Ghāzī Malik,* so that he reaped the reward of his infamous and abominable deeds.
Verse.The tree thou didst nurture has borne its fruit,
Dost thou not see even now its fruit in its bosom,
If it has borne thorns it is thou who didst plant them,
If it has brought thee silk attire it is of thy own spinning.
And the following day Ghāzī Malik left Indrapath* and alighted at Kūshk Sabzī.* Great and small came out to welcome his coming, and gave vent to expressions of congratulation. The day following he went on to the city of Dihlī, where tidings was brought to him that the rascal Khān-i-Khānān had crept into the corner of a garden,* where he was lying concealed.
Malik Fakhru-d-Dīn proceeded by order of Ghāzī Malik, and having mutilated and disgraced him* paraded him about the city where he met with condign punishment. This event took place in the year 720 A.H. (1321. A. D). The duration of Khusrū Khān's rule was four months and a few days.
Verse.That which thou doest they will shew thee again,
That which thou givest, they will return thee the like.