The Emperor told Bahramand Khan, who was paymaster at that time, “Musavi Khan alias Mirza Muizz-i-Fitrat, out of pride never petitions me about his wants and is living in great distress. Unless he writes to me about his circumstances, he will get no favour from me. You should send him word [about it], get in reply a petition from him, and submit it to me.” So, after receiving the message, Musavi Khan wrote to the Emperor, “Your knowledge of my condition is better than my words. (Verse)
In demanding, we speechless ones belong to the race of moths:
To me it is easier to burn [in the fire of desire] than to state my wish.
My tongue of statement has become silent from my pride of service.
These meritorious deeds have thrown me into the path of mistake.
The ocean of mercy never reposes from [heaving in] billows of gracious acts,
(Hence) those who beg make needless importunity.”
The Emperor wrote on the petition, “Verily you have written the truth. (Verse)
Silence opens the hardest prisons.
In the cage the parrot with its beak is [vainly] chattering about itself.
But,
No man is engaged in mending his own character;
Every one whom I have seen is busy in pampering his own nature (passions).
According to the Tradition, ‘The king is the shadow of God,’ whenever the king of the age requests his servant to state his desires, and the latter gives such an excellent answer, it would be bad manners not to grant favours to him.”
Text.–Ir. MS. 18b.
Notes.–Mirza Muizz, a Persian of Mashhad, married a sister
of Aurangzib's wife and was created Musavi Khan and diwan
of the Pay office (daftar-i-tan) in September, 1688, and diwan
of the Deccan in June, 1689. Died after May, 1690. (Masir-i-