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568
HINDUSTAN
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(g- The flanking parties?)
For the flank-movement (tulghdmd) of the right wing there were posted two of the most trusted of the household retainers, Tardika* and Malik Qasim the brother of Baba. Qashqa, with a body of Mughuls; for the flank-movement of the left wing were the two trusted chiefs Mumin Ataka and Rustam Turkman, leading a body of special troops.
C*. The Chief of the Staffs
The pillar of royal retainers, the perfect in loyalty, the cream of privy-counsellors, Nizamu'd-dln Sultan Muhammad Bakhshi, after posting the ghdzis of Islam, came to receive the royal commands. He despatched adjutants {tawacht) and messengers (j/asdwal) in various directions to convey imperative orders concerning the marshalling of the troops to the great sultans and amirs. Arid when the Commanders had taken up their positions, an imperative order was given that none should quit his post or, uncommanded, stretch forth his arm to fight.
(i. The battle?)
One watch 2 of the afore-mentioned day had elapsed when the opposing forces approached each other and the battle began. As Light opposes Darkness, so did the centres of the two armies oppose one another. Fighting began on the right and left wings, such fighting as shook the Earth and filled highest Heaven with clangour.
The left wing of the ill-fated pagans advanced against the right wing of the Faith-garbed troops of Islam and charged down on Khusrau Kukuldash and Baba Qashqa's brother Malik Qasim. The most glorious and most upright brother Chin-tlmur Sultan, obeying orders, went .to reinforce them and, engaging in the conflict with bold attack, bore the pagans back almost to the rear of their centre. Guerdon was made for the brother's glorious fame.3 The marvel of the Age, Mustafa of Rum, had his post in the centre (of the right wing) where was the exalted son, upright and fortunate, the object of the favourable regard of
1 or, Tatdiyakka, the champion, Gr. monomachus (A.N. trs. i, 107 n.).
2 var. 1 watch and 2 g'harts ; the time will have been between 9 and 1 o a. m.
3 jUldu ba nam al 'azlz-i-baradar shud, a phrase not easy to translate.
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