Machine summary:
of the Lahjat-i-Sikandar Shahi, with which this article deals in some detail proves that the prince was deeply interested in music 2 and that he did laudable service for the promotion of this important though neglected branch of the fine arts.
The title of the book, as shown in the following sentence, is Lahjat-i• Sikandar Shahi uia Lataif-i-Namutonahi 3 (and not Lahjat-i-Sikandari as ap• pears on the first page of the MS.
And it was only when he could translate Sanskrit works on music into Persian in a style agreeable to the temperament of Mian Bahwa,6 the Prime Minister of Sikandar Lodi, that he took upon himself to complete the present book.
His one book on this science under the title of Ma'dan-'ush-Shifa·i-Sikandar Shahi (which has been published in the Newal Kishore Press, Lucknow) proves his unusual accomplish• ments in Arabic as well as Indian medicines.
As I had struck him with a whip, it could not disobey me and became ready to serve me and with its double tongue, it effected a translation of Sangit Ratnakar, Nrtya Sangarah, Ud Bharat, Sudhanidhi, Sangit Sammassiya, Sangit Kalpatar and Sangit Matang and certain other works into Dari 8 (Persian) and caused the brides of melodies to come out from behind the curtain of seclusion on to the page and in the presence of men of excellence of the time.
The authors dedicated his book to the Sultan as is evident from the following IO:- (View the image of this page) 8.