TRANSLATIONS OF SANSKRIT WORKS AT AKBAR'S COURT 39 tarily obtained the honour of accepting Islam, he joined the circle of the personal attendants (Khasa-Khailan) of His Majesty. His Majesty ordered that the Atharva-Veda ('Bed Atharban*), which is the fourth one out of the four celebrated books of the Indians, and some of whose injunctions are like those of the Muslim Community, should be explained, and I should render it from the Indian language into Persian. Since there were many obscurities in the text, and the interpreter (Shaikh Bhawan) was unable to explain them, and the intention could not be understood, I reported this to the Emperor. (Thereupon) first. Shaikh Faizi and then Haji Ibrahim Sirhindi was ordered to translate it. He did not render it in a satisfactory manner, and no trace of the work for this reason survives.1 One of the reasons the translation did not give satisfaction was, perhaps, because, with the zeal of a convert. Shaikh Bhawan sought to give to the Atharva-Veda text meanings which might please his coreligionists. For Badauni goes on to say: One of the many injunctions of that work is this that until they recite a text that has several la letters and sounds like the Muslim confession of faith la ilaha il I'allah (There is no god but Cod), they could not receive salvation. Secondly, beef is permitted upon certain conditions. Further the dead are to be buried, not burnt. Shaikh Bhawan used to come out victorious in debate with the Brahmans of all India; and out of this motive had accepted the True Faith. God be praised.2 On this it is fitting to record a rival though later tradition recorded, c. 1653: Nain Jot says, I said (to Shaikh Bawan, name so spelt). "Translate this passage." When he translated it, its meaning appeared to be wholly contrary and opposite to the meaning of la ilaha il I allah. More, those conditions of beef-eating were contrary to the way of the Muslims. Further, the way of burial was in a different fashion, which is not permitted among the Muslims. His Majesty and all those present laughed at the Brahman (convert), and His Majesty said: "Look at the Muslims and Hindus, that during such a long argument, no one asked, what the meaning of this text is." He praised me considerably.3 The date when the translation was completed cannot be precisely established, but Shaikh Ibrahim Sirhindi died in 1583; and so the work must have been finished before this year.4 It must, therefore have been the earliest work of translation from Sanskrit into Persian. Owing to the difficulties posed by its archaic language, the choice was, perhaps not a fortunate one, being dictated more by Shaikh