Bagh O Bahar | Page 2

have borne for these thirty years; But I have revived
Persia by this Persian [History.] [6] I having in like manner polished
the Urdu tongue, Have metamorphosed Bengal into Hindustan." [7]
You gentlemen are yourselves appreciators of merit. There is no need
of representation [on my part]. O God! may the star of your prosperity
ever shine!

MIR AMMAN'S PREFACE.
"The Name of God, Most Merciful and Gracious."
The pure God! what an [excellent] Artificer he is! He who, out of a
handful of dust, hath created such a variety of faces and figures of earth.
Notwithstanding the two colours [of men], one white and one black, yet
the same nose and ears, the same hands and feet, He has given to all.
But such variety of features has He formed, that the form and shape of
one [individual] does not agree with the personal appearance of another.
Among millions of created beings, you may recognise whomsoever you
wish. The sky is a bubble in the ocean of his [eternal] unity; and the
earth is as a drop of water in it; but this is wonderful, that the sea beats
its thousands of billows against it, and yet cannot do it any injury. The
tongue of man is impotent to sound the praise and eulogy of Him who
has such power and might! If it utter any thing, what can it say? It is
best to be silent on a subject concerning which nothing can be said.
VERSE.
"From earth to heaven, He whose work this is, If I wish to write his
praise, then what power have I; When the prophet himself has said, 'I
do not comprehend Him.' After this, if any one pretends to it, he is a

great fool. Day and night the sun and moon wander through their
course, and behold his works-- Yea, the form of every individual being
is a sight of surprise: He, whose second or equal is not, and never will
be; No such a unique Being, Godhead is every way fit. But so much I
know, that He is the Creator and Nourisher. In every way his favour
and beneficence are upon me."
And blessings on his friend, for whose sake He created the earth and
heavens, and on whom He bestowed the dignity of prophet.
VERSE.
"The pure body of Mustafa is an emanation of Divine light, For which
reason, it is well known that his body threw no shadow. [8] Where is
my capacity, that I should sufficiently speak his praise; Only with men
of eloquence this is an established rule." [9]
And blessings and salvation be on his posterity, who are the twelve
Imams. [10]
VERSE.
"The praise of God and the eulogy of the prophet having here ended;
Now I begin that which is requisite to be done. O God! for the sake of
the posterity of thy prophet, [11] Render this my story acceptable to the
hearts of high and low."
The reasons for compiling this work are these, that in the year of the
Hijra, 1215, A.D. 1801, corresponding to the [12] Fasli year 1207, in
the time of his Excellency the noble of nobles, Marquis Wellesley,
Lord Mornington, Governor-general, (in whose praise the judgment is
at a loss, and the understanding perplexed, and in whom God has
centred all the excellent qualities that great men ought to possess. In
short, it was the good fortune of this country that such a chief came
here, from whose happy presence multitudes enjoy ease and happiness.
No one can now dare to injure or wrong another; and the tiger and the
goat drink at the same ghat; [13] and all the poor bless him and live,)
[14] the pursuit of learning came into vogue, and the gentlemen of

dignity perceived that by acquiring the Urdu tongue, they might hold
converse with the people of India, and transact with perfect accuracy
the affairs of the country; for this reason many books were compiled
during this same year, according to orders.
To those gentlemen who are learned, and speak the language of
Hindustan, [15] I address myself, and say, that this "Tale of the Four
Darwesh" was originally composed by Amir Khusru, [16] of Dihli [17]
on the following occasion; the holy Nizamu-d-Din Auliya, surnamed
Zari-Zar-bakhsh, [18] who was his spiritual preceptor, (and whose holy
residence was near Dilli, three Kos [19] from the fort, beyond the red
gate, and outside the Matiya gate, near the red house), fell ill; and to
amuse his preceptor's mind, Amir Khusru used to repeat this tale to him,
and attend him during his sickness. God, in the course of time, removed
his illness; then he pronounced this benediction on the day he
performed the ablution of cure: [20] "That whoever will hear