Muntakhab al-tawarikh 78.27.3

78.27.3

But Daud went back to the city, assembled his forces, and scattered Lodi’s followers. By his crafty management he got Lodi into his power, and appropriated all that he possessed. Lodi, knowing his death to be certain, did not withhold his advice from Daud. He said: “Although I know that you will be very sorry after my death, and that you will derive no benefit from it, still I give you one piece of advice, which if you act upon, you will prove victorious. And that is, that you place no reliance upon that peace which I effected not long ago by means of two lacs of rupees. The Moghuls will never let you alone for this trifling sum. Be beforehand with them, and make war on them immediately, for there is nothing like the first blow.” Daud thought that he had an evil design in what he said, and proud of the hollow peace which he had made with the Khan Khanan, but which was no better than a mirage, he put the devoted Lodi to death. Thus he struck his own foot with the axe, and at the same time uprooted the plant of his prosperity with the spade of calamity. When the Khan Khanan heard this news, his loaf fell into the butter and he turned towards Patnah and Hajipur. Then Daud began to recognize the worth of Lodi, and repented of having put him to death ; but what was the good of it ! “ The horse of your fortune was under your thigh, If you did not make haste, what could one do ! The dice of life were to your wishes, But you played badly, what could one do !”