The Adventures of Amir Hamza

by Ghalib Lakhnavi

  The two fought with maces, but neither could injure his adversary. The armies retired after sunset to take rest at their appointed stations. The next day they formed battle arrays again. Qeemaz Shah came out to fight Saryal, who slammed him to the ground. Then Amir made his war cry and secured the release of Qeemaz Shah. Saryal mounted another horse and said to Amir, “O dwarf, why did you let my prey escape? Be quick and tell me your name and station so that you do not die unsung.” Amir answered, “My name is Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib.”

  Saryal dealt a mace blow to Amir, who parried it with his shield. Saryal delivered a second mace blow to Amir, who parried that, too. When Saryal struck a third time, Amir caught his mace by its handle and, putting his bow around Saryal’s neck, pulled Saryal to the ground. Amar Ayyar caught Saryal with a rope and tied up his arms. Amir returned to his pavilion to the sound of the drums of victory, satisfied and contented on all accounts. He asked Saryal, “What are your intentions now?” He replied, “Enroll me among your slaves and admit me as a faithful servant in your court.” Amir converted him to the True Faith and conferred a robe of honor upon him. Saryal took Amir to his city, where he organized festivities in his honor.

  After the festivities were over, Amir said to him, “O Saryal, take me to see the wonders of your land.” Saryal replied, “Three days’ journey from here is the Tilismat-e Jamshediya. You shall enjoy its sights.” Amir said to him, “Tell me who constructed it and give me its complete history.” He answered, “When Jamshed was nearing his death, he emptied the city of its denizens and installed wooden mace bearers and vigils at short intervals at its ramparts. Then he lay down in the grave he had constructed for himself. The other marvel is Jadu-e Jamshediya, also known as Damama-e Ilm. Sufaid Dev lives there,18 whom everyone considers a man-eater.” Amir said, “The terror I inflicted drove that dev from Qaf. Now I learn that he has found a refuge here.” Amir left his army behind and headed for Jadu-e Jamshediya with Amar and Saryal.

  When he arrived there, Amir heard a dreadful voice that struck fear in the hearts of all who heard it. Amir asked, “Whose voice was that?” Saryal answered, “It is the voice of the tilism.” When they arrived at the gates and Amir tried to step inside to see its wonders, the soldier standing guard attacked him with their swords. Amir leapt aside to dodge the blow. Saryal now said, “I have heard my grandfather say that all men in this city are made by tilism. A bird made by tilism lives inside the dome that you see before you. When it sees anyone, it cries out. If you were to kill the bird, you would learn all the secrets of this tilism and then you would come to no harm.” When Amir studied the dome, he saw a bird chirping there with a melodious voice. Amir notched an arrow in his bow, took aim, and fired with such a steady hand that the arrow pierced the bird and it fell to the ground with a thud. The moment it fell down the tilism was broken. Amir opened the city gates, went inside, and saw the man who had attacked him lying on the ground with his weapons. Amir secured possession of the place. When he opened the city’s treasury in Saryal’s presence, he found it filled with hundreds of thousands of snakes and scorpions, and he closed and locked it as before.

  Then Amir said to Saryal, “I have seen all the wonders of Jadu-e Jamshediya. Now tell me where Sufaid Dev is hiding and take me to his dwelling.” Saryal took Amir into the Bayaban-e Akhzar and pointed to a well and said, “This is where Sufaid Dev lives.” Amir said to Saryal, “Exert yourself a little and remove the stone from the mouth of the well.” Saryal tried but was unable to move the stone. Then Amir kicked the stone, shattering it into pieces.

  Amir then lowered himself into the well with a rope, and once he reached the bottom he beheld a door covered by a stone slab. When Amir removed the slab, he saw Sufaid Dev sitting on a throne with lowered head in a state of anxiety, wonderment, and surprise. Sufaid Dev asked one of his minions who had informed him of Amir’s arrival there, “Did you see the Quake of Qaf with your own eyes and recognize him?” The dev answered, “The Quake of Qaf was riding a horse and two men were accompanying him on foot. As to the Quake of Qaf, I recognize and know him well.” Sufaid Dev said, “In the eighteen years that that man lived in Qaf he destroyed the domicile of the devs and drowned hundreds of thousands in the sea of death. It was my fear of him that forced me to make my dwelling here, but he has arrived here as well. It seems that the days of my life are at an end, for the signs of the diminishment of my power are becoming manifest.”

  Sufaid Dev had not yet finished his speech when Amir made his war cry. Sufaid Dev said, “O Quake of Qaf, I sent myself into exile for fear of you and left all my near and dear ones when I took myself to this corner. But you followed me here as well and have cornered me in this dark and narrow place. I shall do everything in my power to inflict on you a most painful death.” At this, Sufaid Dev hurled a several-hundred-maund rock at Amir’s head. Amir leapt to one side and the rock crashed to the ground. As Sufaid Dev bent to pick up another rock, Amir dealt him a blow of his sword from behind, carving through his skull and slicing his spine. Sufaid Dev fell on his face and cried, “Show me the kindness of dealing me another blow so that I may depart even sooner from this ephemeral world for the Permanent Land, and do not suffer the pain of my wounds any longer.” Amir responded, “I know your race all too well. What you hope for will never come to pass.” Sufaid Dev was thwarted, and he gave up his life by bashing his head against the ground. Most of the devs who had accompanied him were killed, while others fled and went their way. Still others asked for clemency, and Amir converted these devs to the True Faith and put them under his allegiance. Then he ordered them, “Return to Qaf and go to Quraisha and remain in her service.”

  Thereafter Amir emerged from the well carrying Sufaid Dev’s head. He showed it to Saryal and hung it from his saddle straps. Then Amir mounted his horse and departed.

  OF RUSTAM, QUNDUZ SAR-SHABAN, AND ALJOSH BARBARI DYING AT THE HANDS OF AHRIMAN SHER-GARDAAN, THE MASTER OF BAKHTAR

  The narrators relate that Rustam-e Peel-Tan noticed that a long period of time had passed since Amir’s departure and no news of him had been received. He decided that Hamza’s companions would be idling their time to no purpose awaiting him there, and would do better to head for Jamshediya and visit its tilisms. He appointed Saryal’s sons as his guides and headed from Qaza-va-Qadar with his army and arrived in the Tilismat-e-Jamshediya after a few days. Finding it destroyed, he realized that Amir must have razed it and headed onward after killing all the devs. Then Rustam headed to the second land.

  When he entered the place with all his forces and broke down the dome, he saw Jamshed’s body lying on a throne. He opened the treasury’s chambers and killed all the scorpions and snakes that were there. Then he said to Saryal’s sons, “We should now head for Bakhtar and see its sights.” They answered, “The king of Bakhtar is Ahriman Sher-Gardaan, a magnificent and majestic lord. He is one hundred and twenty-five yards tall and his people and soldiers are all cannibals. It would not bode well to head there, as no one has returned alive from his dominions.”

  Rustam said to his friends and brothers, “Amir has gone to kill Sufaid Dev. It is certain that on his way back, he will visit Bakhtar to explore that land. If we advance now and vanquish Ahriman Sher-Gardaan before Amir’s arrival, it will earn us great glory and we will be considered heroes and valiant champions.” All of them replied in unison, “We shall do as you order us.”

  Rustam departed that very instant and arrived on the outskirts of Bakhtar in a few days. Ahriman laughed uproariously upon hearing these tidings. He took Marzaban, headed for Rustam’s camp, and issued this challenge: “O herd of sheep! He among you who wishes to have his neck slit should come forward and face me!”

  Qunduz Sar-Shaban took Rustam’s leave to face Ahriman and was martyred at his hands. The cannibals swarmed over him, cut him up into small pieces, and ate him, bones and all. Aljosh Barbari in his turn attacked Ahriman with his dagger and landed a powerful blow that sank up to the hilt into Ahriman’s body, but Ahriman di
d not feel a thing and no harm came to him. Ahriman tried to secure a hold of Aljosh Barbari to mangle him with his teeth, but Aljosh escaped with great effort and kept fighting. During the combat Ahriman finally prevailed over Aljosh Barbari and ate him alive.

  When Rustam saw that two of his champions had been martyred he felt great consternation. He spurred on his horse and entered the arena to fight Ahriman himself. Ahriman dealt Rustam a blow of his mace, which he took on his shield. Rustam then answered with a sword blow that would have cut the cannibal in two and left him with no sign of life had it not missed its mark. Ahriman escaped the blow, jumped down from his horse, and caught Rustam’s arms and pulled him till he ripped the skin from his abdomen. When Qasim Khavari saw that Rustam had been injured, he tore into the arena astride his horse, fearful that Rustam might die and his death would strike dread and terror into the hearts of his men. Qasim Khavari made his war cry and threw himself between Rustam and Ahriman, challenging the foe. The ayyars carried Rustam away to their camp.

  Then Ahriman Sher-Gardaan asked Qasim, “Who was the man who was taken away, and who are you?” Qasim answered, “He was my father and Hamza’s son.” Ahriman said, “With Hamza there, why did he imperil his life and his father not help him?” Qasim answered, “Amir Hamza is not present in the camp, as he has gone to kill Sufaid Dev.” Ahriman replied, “Since Hamza is not with you, it is useless for me to fight mere boys. It is not incumbent on me to fight you.” At this, he retired to his dwelling.

  While Ahriman headed off, Qasim returned to his camp with his whole army and found that Rustam had departed to meet his Maker from the injury Ahriman had inflicted on him. A terrible weeping and wailing rose from the camp of the followers of the True Faith. In the end, they performed Rustam’s last rites and waited for Amir.

  When Amir returned to Jamshediya from his hunting expedition, he saw signs that his army had camped there and said to Amar, “It seems certain from the signs that Rustam has been here. May God ward off the eye of affliction from him, for I suddenly feel a terrible anxiety and my heart is sinking.” Amir Hamza then headed for Bakhtar himself. As he arrived in its environs, all his friends and sons came to him crying, bareheaded, and barefoot and fell at his feet. Upon hearing of the deaths of Rustam, Qunduz, and Aljosh, Amir dropped from his steed and rolled in the dust in ecstasies of grief, overtaken by terrible sorrow. When Amir’s friends saw that he was beside himself with grief, they said to him, “O Amir, your friends and sons all grieve for Rustam, but you are suffering the most affliction and the hearts of those who behold your state bleed from pain. It would be better for you to head to the forest to divert yourself with hunting and the chase.” They finally prevailed on Amir, and all of them headed for the forest.

  It so happened that Marzaban Zardhasht was on his way to Rakham, after having taken his leave of Ahriman, when on the way he received news that Hamza was busy hunting with his friends and sons, and that the death of his son had wounded him deeply and made him oblivious to all concerns. Realizing that he would not find a better chance, Marzaban ordered a sorcerer to conjure him a horse from magic, complete with all the trappings. Then Marzaban stood the horse in a field and lay in wait with some companions on the path that led there. By chance, Sa’ad bin Amar Hamza happened to pass that way and was delighted to see the horse. He dismounted his steed and climbed into the saddle of the enchanted horse. Sa’ad gave the horse a cut with his whip and the horse took off like the wind. Sa’ad tried his best to rein him in, but the horse did not stop. Then Sa’ad drew his sword and beheaded the horse and both horse and he fell to the ground. Marzaban rushed out and tied up Sa’ad and took him captive. Then he went on his way to Rakham.

  Arriving before Gaolangi, he presented Sa’ad to him and said, “This is Hamza’s grandson and the king of the followers of the True Faith. I overpowered him and brought him here a prisoner.” Sa’ad said, “O Gaolangi, since he states that he has overpowered me, order him to fight me before you. Everyone will find out who overpowers whom when we fight together.” Gaolangi answered, “Yours is a fair request, and I would allow it!” He ordered Sa’ad’s fetters removed.

  Marzaban attacked Sa’ad with his mace, but he foiled the blow and, securing hold of Marzaban’s arms, made his war cry and lifted him up over his shoulders. He raised him high above his head and slammed him to the floor. When Marzaban tried to rise to his feet, Gaolangi, who was a just man, killed him by dealing him a blow with his mace which forced his brains from his skull. Gaolangi heaped praises on Sa’ad, embraced him, sat him beside himself on his throne, and said, “My son, consider this place your home. I would gladly give you leave to depart, but I would like to detain you here, for Hamza will certainly head this way in search of you and take the trouble to come here to find you. I have long been desirous of meeting him. Because of your presence here my wish will be granted.” Seeing Gaolangi’s loving and affectionate nature, Sa’ad willingly agreed to stay with him.

  Badiuz Zaman, meanwhile, was surprised to see Sa’ad’s horse standing riderless and the enchanted horse lying dead nearby. He had the surrounding area searched, but no trace of Sa’ad was discovered. Badiuz Zaman felt at a loss and said to his friends, “My friends, a great calamity has overtaken us with Sa’ad’s disappearance. I am duty-bound to search for him. Amir is not yet fully recovered from mourning Rustam. If he hears of Sa’ad’s disappearance, his heart will bleed from excessive sorrow and grief. Let us go in search of Sa’ad and bring him back. It stands to reason that it is all the doing of that villain, Marzaban. Surely it is he—the most accursed being in the world—who is behind it.”

  Badiuz Zaman set out in search of Sa’ad. After many days he came upon a city and learned that its ruler was Taus Bakhtari, the son-in-law of Gaolangi. Badiuz Zaman said to his friends, “We must search for Sa’ad in this city. Perhaps Marzaban has brought him here and hidden him.” He wrote a harsh letter to Taus Bakhtari.

  Hardam Barui delivered Badiuz Zaman’s missive to Taus. Upon receiving it, Taus Bakhtari tore up the letter, whereupon Hardam swung his mace and landed such a powerful blow on Taus that his throne became his coffin. The infidels surrounded Hardam.

  Learning of this development, Badiuz Zaman rushed to Hardam’s aid. After hundreds of infidels had been slaughtered, the remainder sought clemency, and Badiuz Zaman gave them reprieve. He made a heap from the heads of the dead infidels and placed Taus Bakhtari’s head at the top of the pile. Then he and his men traveled onward, and after two days they arrived in another city whose sovereign ruler was Gaolangi’s other son-in-law. Badiuz Zaman wrote a similar missive to him and sent it by the agency of Hardam. This ruler also died at Hardam’s hand for the excesses he took with Badiuz Zaman’s missive. Badiuz Zaman ordered wholesale slaughter of the city’s inhabitants and reprieved the few who survived, and then headed onward.

  In a few days he arrived in Rakham and sent this same message to Gaolangi with Hardam. When Hardam arrived at the court, he saw Sa’ad and Gaolangi seated together on the throne. He beheld Gaolangi’s height and stature with marveling eyes and figured that God must have created giants of this size to cause the hearts of men to be seized by fear and dread. Seeing that Hardam was awed, Gaolangi said to him in a friendly tone, “Welcome, Hardam. Consider this your own house.” Then Gaolangi said to him, “Although Badiuz Zaman killed my sons-in-law, I refrained from murdering him out of the regard I feel for Hamza. Although I had the power to do it, I did not avenge myself.”

  Hardam was greatly embarrassed by Gaolangi’s fine manners and was mortified to have to hand him such a communiqué. He handed the letter to Gaolangi. After reading the letter, Gaolangi turned toward Sa’ad and said, “O Sa’ad, tell me if I have done you any wrong or submitted you to any torture for which your uncle has written me a letter that grieves my heart and causes me untold unease.” Sa’ad answered, “He is unaware of all the kindnesses and favors that you have shown me as your guest. Had he known, he would never have sent you such a message.” Gaolangi said,
“What you say is indeed true.”

  He conferred a robe of honor on Hardam and informed him of the circumstances in which Sa’ad was delivered to him, the punishment he visited on Marzaban, and the reason he asked Sa’ad to stay with him.

  Upon hearing Gaolangi’s message, Badiuz Zaman said, “The army should be given orders to march. I will take Sa’ad away from him in the flash of an eye and will hear no excuses from him.” When Badiuz Zaman arrived at the fortress with his army, Gaolangi said to Sa’ad, “I have now learned that Badiuz Zaman is a rank idiot and no better than a beast. You may take a seat in the tower and witness as I go myself to chastise him and teach him a lesson for his vanity.” After these words, Gaolangi rode out of the fort astride a bull.

  All of Badiuz Zaman’s companions tried to keep him from fighting with Gaolangi, but Badiuz Zaman would not listen to them. As he readied himself to ride into the arena, Landhoor caught the reins of his horse and said, “It was for just such a day that we warriors entered your service.” Badiuz Zaman could not dissuade Landhoor and the Khusrau went and faced Gaolangi. After Landhoor had tested his strength against Gaolangi, Malik Ashtar showed his strength and skill, and after him, Sar-Barahna Tapishi rode to the field with great magnificence. When Gaolangi swung his mace and landed the blow, Sar-Barahna Tapishi’s head was pushed down into the cavity of his chest. Then Dewana Tapishi faced Gaolangi, who laid him low as well: Along with his steed, Gaolangi vanquished him. Gaolangi then dismounted his bull and carried both corpses before Badiuz Zaman and said to him, “O Prince, you had these two mighty warriors killed at my hands without reason, and you caused me to suffer grief and embarrassment before your father. However, what is past is past. Refrain from fighting me and do not think of making war against me. If you wish to have me killed, I have come before you unarmed. You should feel free to put me to death and behead me.” Badiuz Zaman replied, “I am not some executioner who would first secure you before putting you to death. Nor am I a eunuch to act in this unchivalrous manner toward you. Go back and return here armed so that you can test my mettle.”