The Sword Of Persia, Nader Shah Poem by Rajendran Muthiah

The “King of Kings”, Nader Shah,
the Emperor of Persia,
led a campaign against Kandahar,
in the border of Hindustan in 1736.
His soldiers confiscated the provisions,
estates, and animals like ponies, camels and horses.
Tax-dues were doubled and those denying money
were executed and the trade stopped.
After an arduous journey through the hardest terrain,
he laid a siege around the fort of Kandahar
and blocked all the supply routes to the fort.

A poet from his native land came all the way
and presented a poem in praise of Nader.
The emperor didn’t like his verses.
He ordered the Court-Usher to take the poet
around the camp and offer him for sale as a slave.
It’s a pity that there were no takers for the poet.
Nader asked him: ” How did you come here from Khorasan? ”.
“On a donkey”, the poet replied in all his innocence.
Nader at once offered his donkey for sale.
For a good price, it was taken.
The King gave the money to the usher
and let the poet run out of the camp.
The Conqueror who wielded the sword of Persia
had no taste for the words wielded in verses.

If the poets praise the robbers in Politics now,
awards and offers will overwhelm them.