Page:HMElliotHistVol1.djvu/181

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CHACH-NA′MA.

147

slaughter of warriors on both sides, the army of Akham took to flight, and he entered his fort. Chach laid siege to it, and the siege lasted for the period of one year.
In those days the king of Hindustán, that is, Kanauj, was Satbán,[1] son of Rásal, and Akham sent letters to him. asking for assistance. But Akham died before the answer was returned, and his son sucsucceeded him. Akham had a friend, an infidel Samaní, named Buddrakú,[2] i.e, “Protected by the idol.” He had a temple which was called Budh Nau-vihár,[3] and the idol Dilhá (?)[4] He was a devotee thereof, and famous for his piety, and all the people of the surrounding places were obedient to him. Akham was his disciple, and he regarded the Samaní as his pole-star. When Akham had taken refuge in the fort, the Samaní assisted him; he did not fight, but he read his books in his chamber of worship. “When Akham died, and his son[5] succeeded him in the government, the Samaní was disaffected and troubled, for he did not think it right that the kingdoms and the property and estates should depart from his hands. In his perplexity he looked about, and he arrived at the conclusion that the country must fall to Chach, whether he would be friendly to him or not. Then the (late king’s) son being sore pressed, his army and his forces gave up fighting, and the fort was surrendered to Chach, who firmly established his power in it. When Chach heard of the Samaní, and knew that he had made a compact with Akham and his son, and that the war had lasted for one year through his enchantments and magical power, he swore that if he ever captured the fort, he would seize him and flay him, and order drums to be covered with his skin, and have his body torn to pieces. This oath was reported to the Samaní, who laughed and said, “Chach will not have the power to kill me.” When after a time, the people of the fort, after much fighting

  1. [“Siyár“ in MS. B.]
  2. [“Buddhúgúí” in MS. A.: raku or rakhu means “protected,” from the Sanskrit rakshita. Gúi probably represents the Sanskrit gupta, which also signifies “protected.”]
  3. [See note in the next page.]
  4. [ ( E. I. Lib.) ]
  5. [MS. A. leaves out the word “son,” and so makes the passage unintelligible.]