Sassa hereupon bethought himself of a rare game, the invention of an ancient Grecian sage, by name Hermes, which had recently been introduced into India by Alexander and his soldiers, who used to play it at times of leisure.  Sassa procured and modified the game and board from 56 pieces and 112 squares to 32 pieces and 64 squares, and explained it to the king, who practised it with both satisfaction and delight, Sassa’s stipulation of a reward of a grain of corn doubled again and again 64 times, which was at first deemed ridiculous, was found to amount to 18,446,744,073,709,551,615 rating the barley corn at two shillings the bushel, the value required from the Indian king by the philosopher was 3,385,966,239,667 pounds and 12s an unexpected and amazing sum.

The second version is of another highly ambitious and successful king of Hind, name Fur, who died and left a young son, inexperienced in war and in danger of losing his possessions.  The wise men consulted together, and Sassa, the son of Dahir, brought the chess board and men to the Prince, saying, “Here you have an exact image of war, which is conducted on principles similar to those which regulate this wonderful game.  The same caution in attack and coolness in defence which you have to exercise here, you will have to put in practice in the battlefield.  The Prince with eagerness availed himself of Sassa’s instructions until he made himself fully acquainted with the principles of the game.  He then assembled his army and went forth in full confidence to encounter his enemies, whom he defeated at all points.  He then returned home in triumph, and ever after he cherished his love for the game of chess to a knowledge of which he considered himself indebted for the preservation of his honour, his kingdom and his life.”

The third account relates—­“After Belugi, reigned Giumhur who had this royal seat in the City of Sandali, in the province of Cachemir.  When he died, his brother, called May, was chosen King, who had two sons, Ghav and Talachand.  Upon the death of May, their mother Paritchera, that is, endued with angelic beauty, reigned.  These two young Princes being grown to maturity, desire to know from their mother who of them was to be her successor.  The mother concealing her mind, gave them both hopes separately.  In the meantime, the brothers quarrel, and raise armies, and the mother endeavored to reconcile them by her good advice, but in vain, for soon after they broke out into open war.  After various battles, it fell out that Talachand was slain.  Upon this, the mother goes to her surviving son, and complains to him of these things.

“Then the wise men of the kingdom set about to compose the game Shatranji, representing the battle of Ghav and Talachand.

“The sorrowful mother contemplates this game, and by daily playing it, brings into her mind the battle and death of her son Talachand.  She could not forbear to torment herself with the remembrance of his death, and every day for a long time, to give herself up to the meditation thereof.”—­Shahnama.