The Rájá, with the bard Chándá and two of his brothers, brought his bride to Delhi amid the admiration of a wondering world.

Unfortunately the prince was all engrossed by his affection for his beautiful wife and neglected all other affairs. After a year had thus passed, Sulṭán Shahábu'ddín by reason of the above events, formed an alliance with Rájá Jaichand, and assembling an army, invaded the country and captured many places. But no one dared even to represent, not to say, remedy this state of affairs. At last, the principal nobles meeting together, introduced Chándá through the seven gates of the palace, who entering the women's apartments, by his representations somewhat disturbed the Rájá's mind. But in the pride of his former victories, he marched to battle with but a small army. As his brave champions were now no more, his kingdom fallen from its ancient renown, and Jaichand his former ally, reversing his past policy, in league with the enemy, the Rájá in this contest was taken prisoner and carried by the Sulṭán to Ghazni. Chándá in his fidelity and loyalty hastened to Ghazni, entered the Sulṭán's service and gained his favour. By his address, he discovered the Rájá and comforted him in his prison. He proposed that he should praise his dexterity with the bow to the Sulṭán who would desire to wit­ness it, and that then he might use his opportunity. The proposal was carried out and the Rájá pierced the Sulṭán with an arrow. His retainers fell upon the Rájá and Chándá and cut them to pieces.

The Persian historians give a different account and state that the Rájá was killed in battle.

Fate discloses many such events from its treasure-house of wonders. But where—and blessed is he—who will take warning thereby and act on the lesson?

When the Chauhán dynasty fell, the choicest portion of Hindustán passed into the hands of Sulṭán Mụizzu'ddín Ghori. Leaving Malik Ḳuṭbu'ddín (Eibak) who was one of his slaves, at the village Guhrám,* he himself returned to Ghazni, laying waste the hilly country on his northern march. Ḳuṭbu'ddín in the same year possessed himself of Delhi and many other places and followed up his successes with remarkable ability. On the death of Mụizzu'ddín, Ghiyáṣu'ddín Maḥmúd son of Ghiyáṣu'ddín Muḥammad sent from Fírózkoh (his capital) the umbrella and insignia of royalty to Malik Ḳuṭbu'ddín. Ḳuṭbu'ddín was enthroned at Lahore and exalted his reputation by his justice, munificence and valour. He lost his life while playing at chaugán.*

The nobles raised his son Arám Sháh to the throne, but a strong faction set up Malik Altmish, who had been a purchased slave, and was the son-in-law and adopted heir of Ḳuṭbu'ddín. Arám Sháh was defeated and retired into obscurity, and Altmish assumed the title of Shamsu'ddín. It is said that his father was chief of some of the Turkish tribes. His brethren and cousins distracted by envy, sold, like Joseph, this nursling of intelligence, into slavery. Through the vicissitudes of fortune, he had various changes of masters until a merchant brought him to Ghazni. Sulṭán Mụizzu'ddín Sám proposed to purchase him, but his owner chaffered for his value and placed an exorbitant price on him. The Sulṭán enraged, forbade any one to purchase him. Ḳuṭbu'ddín on his return to Ghazni after the conquest of Gujarát, having obtained permission, bought him for a large sum and adopted him as a son. Khwájah Ḳuṭbu'ddín U´shi* was his contemporary and edified the world by his outward demeanour and the sanctity of his interior life. When Altmish died, his son (Ruknu'ddín Fíróz Sháh) succeeded him who regarded wealth as a means of self-indul­gence and thought little of winning the affections of his people. He made over the control of affairs to his mother Sháh Turkán. The nobles withdrawing their allegiance raised Razíah the daughter of Sulṭán Shamsu'ddín to the throne. The Sulṭán himself had previously made her his heir. Some of his courtiers asked him the reason of his doing so while he had sons still living. He replied that his sons, addicted to drinking were unfitted for the dignity. During the reign of Mụizu'ddin Bahrám Sháh, the Mughal troops devastated Lahore. A disloyal faction imprisoned the king and put him to death. In the reign of Sulṭán Aláu'ddín Masạúd Sháh occurred an eruption of the Mughals into Bengal, entering by way of China or Tibet, but his troops defeated them. Another body advanced from Turkishtán to U´ch. The Sulṭán set out to engage them, but on reach­ing the banks of the Biáh, intelligence reached him that the enemy had retreated. He returned to Delhi and there affected the company of low and base flatterers and ended his days in prison.

Náṣiru'ddin Maḥmúd ruled with capacity and munificence. In his time also, the Mughals entered the Panjáb but retreated on hearing of his approach.

The “Tabaḳát i Náṣiri”* takes its name from him. He had many excellent qualities. Ghiyaṣu'ddín Balban who had been the slave and son-in-law of his father, he raised to the rank of chief minister and gave him the title of Ulugh* Khán. This minister filled his high office worthily and sought the divine favour in watchfulness over his people.

Náṣiru'ddín dying without children, the faithful minister was raised to the sovereignty. Clemency and solid gravity of character added fresh lustre to his dignity, and far from spending his precious hours in unworthy pursuits, he gladdened his kingdom by his appreciation of merit, his knowledge of men and his devotion to God. Those of ill repute and the wicked were banished into obscurity, and the good happily prospered under his encouragement. He conferred the government of the Panjáb on his eldest son Muḥammad, commonly known as Khán i Shahíd,* through whose valour and vigilance the province rested in security. Mír Khusrau and Mír Hasan were in his suite. He was returning from a visit to his father unprepared for hostilities, when he encountered some Mughal troops between Dípálpúr and Lahor and lost his life in the action. Mír Khusrau was taken prisoner but contrived to escape. The province of Bengal had been bestowed by Ghiyáṣu'ddín on his youngest son Bughra Khán.

On the death of Ghiyáṣu'ddín, the nobles despatched Kai Khusrau the son of Khán i Shahíd, who had been nominated heir, to (his father's government of) Multán, and bestowed the title of Sulṭán Mụizzu'ddín Kaikubád on the son of Bughra Khán who thus acquired the sovereignty of Delhi. His father in Bengal, assuming the title of Náṣiru'ddín marched to Delhi whence Kaikubád advanced with a force to encounter him. The armies met on the banks of the Sarjú (Gogra) near the town of Ajodhya, and through the conspiracy of disloyal and evil counsellors, the father after the interview returned to Bengal and the supreme sovereignty rested with the son. It is strange that Amír Khusrau should have chosen such a subject as this interview for encomium in his poem the Kirán u's Sạdain. The fortunes of this thankless unfilial son through his insobriety fell into decay. A faction set up his son, under the title of Shamsu'ddín to remedy the disorder, and the body of the wretched Kai­kubád was flung into the waters of the Jumna. Shamsu'ddín was set aside and the sovereignty, by assent of the ministers, conferred on the Khiljis.

Jalálu'ddín who was paymaster of the Imperial forces, ascended the throne and by his simplicity of character lent no favour to the designs of the factious. His nephew Malik Aláu'ddín who had been brought up under his care, went from Karrah to the Deccan and having amassed great booty was inflated by its possession and proved rebellious. The Sulṭán by the persuasion of intriguers advanced from Delhi to Karrah, where the traitor slew him and assumed the title of Sulṭán Aláu'ddín. Thus by a marvel of Fate did the empire devolve on this miscreant, yet he accom­plished some excellent reforms. On several occasions he encountered and defeated the Mughals. Mír Khusrau dedicated to him his Khamsah* and the story of Dewal* Ráni to his son Khizr Khán. Unfortunately he aban­doned his usual prudence and fell under the influence of a eunuch (Káfúr) on whom he conferred the conduct of the administration. Through the sugges­tions of that wretch, his three sons Khizr Khán, Shádi Khán and Mubárak Khán were imprisoned, and on his own death, by the same instrumentality the youngest son was raised to the throne under the title of Shahábu´ddín. He destroyed the sight of two of his brothers, but Mubárak Khán providentially escaped. A few days later the wretch (Káfúr) was himself assassinated and Mubárak Khán who was in prison became chief minister.