2 INTRODUCTION The one with eastern authors. Husain Ghaznawi wrote a Persian poem on the subject, entitled Qissae Padmäwat. Rai Gobind Munshi in 1652 A.D. wrote a version in Persian prose, called (after the chronogram of its date) Tukfati. Kulüb. Again Mir Ziyau-d-din 'Ibrat, and Ghulam Ali "Ishrat wrote a joint version in Urdú 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 Muhind-d-in. He studied Sanskrit Prosody and Rhetoric from Hindu Pandits at Jāyas. He belonged to the Oistiya Nizami 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 Bundelkhand, and who is said to have died at the age of a hundred years in A.D. 1562-63. The poet was patronied by Sher Shāh. The only other fact which we know for certain is that he was blind with one eye. I have collected the following traditions about him. One of Shah's allies was Jagat Dév, (enthroned 1527 A.D.: died 1573 Al Mahārāj of Ghazipur and Bhojpur. He was present at the battle of Baghah (Buxar) in which Shër Shah defeated Humayün. Malik Muhammad is 3rd to have attended his court. Two of Malik Muhammad's four friends, who he mentions in his poem (22) were also patronised by Jagat Dev. Those were Yusuf Malik and Salone Singh (whom Malik Muhammad calls ME as if he was a Musalman). It is said that another attendant at Jagat Dev court was a Katthak, named Gandhary Raj, who was skilled in the art of singing. Malik Muhammad 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, Gandhary Raj's descendants have called themselves Malik, and members of the family still live in Taluka Raipurā and at Hati in Baliya District, and are renowned singers. It is said that the Raja of Améthi was childless, but was granted a son in consequence of the prayers of Malik Muharamad. When the poet died, he was buried at Améthi, and his tomb is still shown, and worshiped by believers. Malik Muhammad's two friends, Malik Yüsaf and Salone, lived in what is now the district of Gorakhpur, 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 thăth Hindi language, and written in the Persian character, is very difficult both to read and to understand. It has been frequently transliterated into the Nagari character,the transcriptions, whether MS. or printed, are full of mistakes, generally guesses to make the meaning clear. The best transliterated edition is by Pandit Rām Jasan of Banāras; but even in his case (patting 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 incorret. We have been fortunate enough to become possessed of several old MS. of the poem in the Persian character, and by diligent comparison we have endeavoured to reproduce, in the Nagari character, the actual words written by the poet. A glance at the critical notes will show the labour involve in the task.
