XLVII. QĀZĪ MUBĀRAK OF GOPĀMAU.*

He was a most learned man and performed the duties of his office of Qāẓī with great integrity and honesty. He acquired his knowledge and good breeding from his teacher, Shaikh Niāmu-d­dīn of Ambēṭhī* (may his tomb be sanctified!), and the Shaikh, from the time when the Miyān first began to study in his hospice, had a special regard for him and bestowed care on his education, and whenever the Qāẓī used to make his request, saying, “Why should not I too receive my share from the reservoir of your saintship?” Shaikh Niāmu-d-dīn would always reply, “Qāẓī Mubārak has devoured this world and gained (his reward in) the next.” The Qāẓī lived highly regarded, honoured, and respected 131 to the end of his life, and thus too took his departure to the next world.

Among the sages and learned men who came and settled in Gopāmau for the purpose of studying under the Qāẓī (on him be God's mercy!), and there grew to manhood, so that for the sake of profiting by their society men came from great distances, and attained to perfection thereby, was the respected Budh, who used to give instruction in all the books commonly studied. Another was Sayyid Muḥīyy, of whom the same may be said, and there were others too in the same category. That caravan of sojourners has now reached its journey's end, leaving no suc­cessors, and the mansions and abodes of learning have now been cleared of the tigers of the forest of knowledge, so that those who, fox-like, are ever ready to creep into an earth, have taken their place. The author of the Mashāriqu-'l-Anwār too makes the same complaint of his own time, saying no sooner is the den clear of the lioness with two cubs than the gravid vixen enters it in the morning.

Verse.

This one small loaf* remains to poor Ḥasan,
I fear that day when not even this will be left.