35. Translation of an Historical Poem of the 
Emperor Shah ‘Alam II, 
By Prorsessor M. Hipayat Husa. 
The following poem was written by the Emperor Shah 
‘Alam II of Dehli (takhallus Ajtab) after he had been deprived 
of sight by the treacherous Rohila Chief Ghulam Qadir Khan, 
son of Zabit Khan, and grandson of Najib ad-Dawla. After 
extorting all the sums he could from his royal master, the 
traitor ordered his Rohilas to pluck out the impoverished 
Muhammad Shah. 
TRANSLATION. 
1. A storm of misfortune arose for my humiliation, 
And scattered to the winds all my sovereignty. 
2. I was the sun in the sky of royal sublimity, 
But my black deeds alas! have brought it to the dusk of 
decline. 
Good it is that the Sky has plucked out my eyes, 
So that I do not see another ruling in my place. 
Ason of an Afghan gave to the winds the grandeur of my 
- 
sovereignty. 
Who but the Holy One can lend me a helping hand # 
The golden wealth of this world was to me as a life- 
consuming malady, 
But through the Grace of God this malady has been cast 
from me. 
I must have sinned grievously to have thus been punished, 
But it is | known that Heaven will pardon all sinning. 
He that destroyed me, had been my minister for thirty 
¥ 
Pe as 
ears, 
Swittly have my wrongs to others reaped their reward. 
Promises and oaths made my friends, but treacherously 
they acted. 
Well indeed have my friends shown their sincerity. 
I gave milk to and nurtured the young of a snake ; 
In the end it girt itself to suck my blood. 
ie 8) 
© 
| This refers to the promise of salvation made by the Prophet to 
those who suffer for their sins in this world. 
