Muntakhab al-tawarikh 77.2.4

77.2.4

Then Hemun in Dehli gave himself the title of Bikramajit, who was a great Raja in Hindustan, from whom the people of Hind take their era, he lived 1600 odd years ago. When he had done his best there, to subvert the ordinances of Islam he came with 1500 elephants of war, and treasure without end or measure, and an immense army, to offer battle at Panipat. He sent on his artillery before him, (P. 15) and the opportunity presenting itself to a company of the great Amirs, such as Khan Zaman, Iskandar Khan and others, who were advancing as vanguard, they took it at Panipat after some fighting. And Hemun raising the hopes of the Amirs of the Afghans, whose leader was Shadi Khan Muswani, with a suitable augmentation and a gift of lands, opening the door of his treasuries, and giving great largesses, tried to console the army for the loss. But the Afghans, since they were sick of his usurpation, began to pray for his fall, and in impromptus kept saving things to this effect: “Welcome a vicissitude even against ourselves;” consequently without delay he started from Panipat mounted on an elephant called “Haway,” and came to the district of Kharaganda (where there is now a famous caravanserai), and on the morning of Friday the 10th of the sacred month Muharram 964 A. H., (which day is also called Rozi 'ashura) : — “To friends it is a blessed date, But unto foes unfortunate!” — fighting and slaughter began between the Amirs of the vanguard and the hosts of Hemun.