Riyaz al-salatin 92.1

92.1

When news of Shah Jahan's advance towards Bengal and Orissa reached the Emperor, he sent orders to Prince Parviz and Mahabat Khan, who were in the Dakhin, to march quickly towards the Subahs of Allahabad and Behar, so that in case the Nazim of Bengal was unable to oppose successfully the advance of Shah Jahan's army, they were to engage Shah Jahan. In the meantime, news of the fall of Nawab Ibrahim Khan Fateh Jang, Nazim of Bengal, reached the Emperor, who thereon repeated his previous orders to Prince Parviz and Mahabet Khan. Prince Parviz with Mahabet Khan and other officers marched towards Bengal and Behar. As the Commander of Shah Jahan's army, drawing the boats towards his side, had fortified the ferries of the river Ganges, some delay was caused in the arrival of the Imperialists. The Imperialists, with considerable difficulty, collected thirty flotillas of boats from the zamindars, and under the latter's guidance selecting one ford, succeeded in crossing over. For some days, both the armies arrayed themselves in front of each other. As the Imperialists numbered 40,000, whilst Shah Jahan's army did not number more than 10,000, the advisers of Shah Jahan dissuaded the Prince from offering battle. But Rajah Bhim, son of Rana Karan, unlike other advisers, displayed rashness, and with the rashness common to Rajputs insisted that he would part company, unless they agreed to fight.