The Successors of Genghis Khan - Robert Bedrosian's Armenian ...

THE SUCCESSORS OF GENGHIS KHAN
of living creature and every variety of inorganic matter should not go
without their share, and therefore those domesticated animals used for
riding or as beasts of burden should not be subjected to the discomfort
of loads, chains, and hobbles, while as for those that may be eaten as
food in accordance with the just Shari'at, their blood should not be
shed. And as for the wild creatures that fly or graze, on land and in the
water, they should be secure from the arrows and snares of hunters
and beat their wings to their heart's content in the gardens of safety.
So too the surface of the earth should not be made to suffer the pain
caused by tent-pegs and the headache induced by horses' hoofs; and
running water should not be polluted by the discharge of impurities.
Praise God for a being whom the Almighty makes the source of
compassion and the meeting place of all kinds of equity to such an
extent that he desires the comfort of all living creatures and inorganic
matter! What limit can there be to the concern of his august mind
for improving the lot of the weak and spreading justice and mercy
among nobles and commoners ? May God Almighty grant his illustrious
family the enjoyment and pleasure of empire and fortune for
long years and into distant ages, by His grace and favor!39
In this manner they passed that day till nightfall. The next day they
feasted in the tent which Sahib Yalavach had provided, made of
nasijw and gold-embroidered cloths in various colors such that no one
before had pitched such a tent or constructed such a pavilion. And as
the picture shows, the World Emperor was seated upon a throne, the
princes, like the necklace of the Pleiades, gathered on his right, his
seven illustrious brothers41 standing on the feet of courtesy at his
service, and his wives, like black-eyed houris, seated upon his left.
And silver-limbed cupbearers circulated cups of koumiss and wine in
ewers and goblets. Among the noyans there stood, slave-like, in the
39 The account of this curious truce with Nature is taken from Juvaini (HWC,
pp. 569-70). Cf. the story of Ogedei's releasing a captured wolf (above, pp. 92-93,
HWC, p. 231). Cf. too the T. idhuq, "holy, sacred," of which the basic meaning is
"released." "This name," says Kashghari(I, p. 65), "is given to an animal that has
been set free. No load may be placed on such an animal and it may not be milked or
shorn; it is spared because of a vow that its master has made."
«° See Glossary.
41 Qubilai, Hiilegii, Ariiq Boke, Moge, Bochek, Sogetei, and Siibiigetei (Siibetei).
See HWC, p. 571 and note 60.
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