The Institutes of Akbar 315: 85. Rajah Bir Bal [Bir Bar], the Brahman.
The Áín i Akbari (Blochmann, Jarrett) 315
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85. Rajah Bir Bal [Bir Bar], the Brahman.
315.1
He was a Brahman of the name of Mahesh Dás (Maásir; the Ed. Bibl. Indica of Badáoní, II. p. 161, calls him Brahman Dás), and was a Bhat, or minstrel, a class of men whom the Persians call bádforosh, ‘dealers in encomiums.’ He was very poor, but clear-headed, and remarkable for his power of apprehension. According to Badáoní, he came soon after Akbar’s accession from Kálpí to Court, where his bonmots in a short time made him a general favourite. His Hindi verses also were much liked, and Akbar conferred on him the title of Kab Rái, or (Hindu) Poet Laureate and had him constantly near himself. In the 18th year, Rájáh Jai Chand of Nagarkot, who was at Court, came to displease the emperor, and was imprisoned. Nagarkot was given to Kab Rái as jágír. He also received the title of Rajah Bir Bar. But Jai Chand’s son, Budh Chand (or Budhi Ch., or Badí Ch.,—the MSS. differ) shut himself up in Nagarkot, and Husain Qulí Khán (No. 24) was ordered to conquer it. The invasion of Ibráhím Husain Mírzá, as related above, forced Husain Qulí to raise the siege, and Bir Bar, in all probability, did not get his jágír. He accompanied Akbar on his forced march to Patan and Ahmadábád, 24th Rabí‘ II, 981. (Vide note to No. 101.) He was often employed in missions. Thus in the 21st year, he was sent with Rái Lon Karan to Dúngarpúr, the Rái of which town was anxious to send his daughter to Akbar’s Harem. In the 28th year, again, B. B. and Zain Kokah (No. 34) conducted Rajah Rám Chand (No. 89) to Court.
315.2
Bir Bar spent his time chiefly at Court. In the 31st year, Zain Khán Kokah marched against the Yúsufzais in Bijor and Sawád; and as he had to ask for reinforcements, Bir Bar was sent there together with Hakím Abul Fath (No. 112). It is said that Akbar determined by lot whether Abulfazl or Bir Bar should go, and the lot fell on the latter, much against Akbar’s wish. The result of this campaign has been related above (pp. 204, 344). Bir Bar and nearly 8000 Imperialists were killed during the retreat—the severest defeat which Akbar’s army ever suffered. How Akbar felt Bir Bar’s loss, has been mentioned on p. 205. There is also a letter on this subject in Abulfazl’s Maktúbát. The following passages from Badáoní (Ed. Bibl. Ind., pp. 357, 358) are of interest—
315.3
“Among the silly lies—they border on absurdities—which during this year were spread over the country, was the rumour that Bir Bar, the accursed, was still alive, though in reality he had then for some time been burning in the seventh hell. The Hindús by whom His Majesty is surrounded, saw how sad and sorry he was for Bir Bar’s loss, and invented the story that Bir Bar had been seen in the hills of Nagarkot, walking about with Jogís and Sanníasís. His Majesty believed the rumour, thinking that Bir Bar was ashamed to come to Court on account of the defeat which he had suffered at the hands of the Yúsufzaís; and it was, besides, quite probable that he should have been seen with Jogís, inasmuch as he had never cared for the world. An Ahadi was therefore sent to Nagarkot, to enquire into the truth of the rumour, when it was proved that the whole story was an absurdity.”
315.4
“Soon after, His Majesty received a report that Bir Bar had been seen at Kálinjar (which was the jágír of this dog), and the collector of the district stated that a barber had recognized him by certain marks on his body, which the man had distinctly seen, when one day Bir Bar had engaged him to rub his body with oil; from that time, however, Bir Bar had concealed himself. His Majesty then ordered the barber to come to court; and the Hindú Krorí (collector) got hold of some poor innocent traveller, charged him with murder, and kept him in concealment, giving out that he was Bir Bar. The Krorí could, of course, send no barber to Court; he therefore killed the poor traveller, to avoid detection, and reported that it was Bir Bar in reality, but he had since died. His Majesty went actually through a second mourning; but he ordered the Krorí and several others to come to Court. They were for some time tortured as a punishment for not having informed His Majesty before, and the Krorí had, moreover, to pay a heavy fine.” Bir Bar was as much renowned for his liberality, as for his musical skill and poetical talent. His short verses, bon-mots, and jokes, are still in the mouths of the people of Hindústán. The hatred which Badáoní, Sháhbáz Khán (No. 80), and other pious Muslims shewed towards Bir Bar (vide pp. 183, 188, 192, 199, 204) arose from the belief that Bir Bar had influenced Akbar to abjure Islám.
315.5
Bir Bar’s eldest son, Zúlah, is mentioned below among the commanders of Two Hundred (No. 387). He was a spendthrift; and as he got no promotion, and his property was squandered away, he resigned court life, and turned faqír, in order to live free and independent (end of 46th year).