2 INTRODUCTION. - one with eastern authors. Husain Ghaznawi wrote a Persian poem on the subject, entitled Qissae Padmāwat. Rai Gobind Munshi in 1652 A.D. wrote a version in Persian prose, called (after the chronogram of its date) Tukfatu-l- Kulüb. Again Mir Ziyāu-d-din 'Ibrat, and Ghulām 'Ali 'Ishrat wrote a joint version in Urdū verse in 1796 A.D. Malik Muhammad's poem was written in 1540 A.D. Concerning the author little is known. He tells us himself that he was the disciple of Sayyad Muhiud-d-in. He studied Sanskrit Prosody and Rhetoric from Hindu Pandits at Jāyas. He belonged to the Cistiyā Nizāmiya, that is to say, he was the eleventh disciple in descent from the well-known Nizāmu-d-din, who died in 1325 A.D. Muhiu-d-din's teacher was Shaikh Burhān, who resided at Kalpi in Bundēl'khand, and who is said to have died at the age of a hundred years in A.D. 1562-63. The poet was patronized by Shēr Shāh. The only other fact which we know for certain is that he was blind of one eye. I have collected the following traditions about him. One of Shēr Shāh's allies was Jagat Dév, (enthroned 1527 A.D.: died 1573 A.D.), Mahārāj of Ghāzīpur and Bhõj'pur. He was present at the battle of Bagh'sar (Buxar) in which Sher Shāh defeated Humāyūn. Malik Muhammad is said to have attended his court. Two of Malik Muhammad's four friends, whom he mentions in his poem (22) were also patronised by Jagat Dév. These were Yusuf Malik and Salonē Singh (whom Malik Muhammad calls Miya as if he was a Muşalmān). It is said that another attendant at Jagat Dēv's court was a Katthak, named Gandharv Rāj, who was skilled in the art of singing. Malik Muḥammad was greatly attached to him and gave him his blessing, prophesying that skill in song would always remain in his family, and, at the same time, begging him to take, as a sign of affection, his title of Malik. Ever since, Gandharv Rāj's descendants have called themselves Malik, and members of the family still live in Talūkā Rāipurā and at Haldi in Baliyā District, and are renowned singers. It is said that the Rājā of Amēthi was childless, but was granted a son, in consequence of the prayers of Malik Muhammad. When the poet died, he was buried at Améthi, and his tomb is still shown, and worshipped by believers. Malik Muhammad's two friends, Malik Yusuf and Salūnē, died in what is now the district of Gorakh’pur, from a surfeit of mangoes. Malik Muhammad was with them at the time, and himself narrowly escaped. The mangoes are said to have been infested by poisonous insects. The text of the Padumāwati, being in the thēțh Hindi language, and written in the Persian character, is very difficult both to read and to under- stand. It has been frequently transliterated into the Nāgari character, but the transcriptions, whether MS. or printed, are full of mistakes, generally guesses to make the meaning clear. The best transliterated edition is that by Pandit Rām Jasan of Banāras; but even in his case (putting instances of sanskritization out of sight) hardly a line is correct. There are several printed editions in the Persian character, but they too are all incorrect. We have been fortunate enough to become possessed of several old MSS. of the poem in the Persian character, and by diligent comparison we have endeavoured to reproduce, in the Nāgarī character, the actual words written by the poet. A glance at the critical notes will show the labour involved in the task.
