The Akbarī Generations 53.2.4

53.2.4

Gujar Khan Kirani, who was Daud's minister, brought the elephants out, and fled by the rear of the city. On that dreadful night, a foretaste of the day of judgment, the inhabitants were in a state of bewilderment and despair. Some endeavoured to escape by the river, but through the crowding and struggling many of them were drowned. Others endeavoured to fly by land, but were crushed under the feet of elephants and horses in the narrow lanes and streets. Some in their despair cast themselves down from the walls, and others perished in the moat. When Gujar Khan came to the Punpun river, he passed his elephants over the bridge; but the fugitives in his rear so pressed and crowded upon the bridge that it broke down, and numbers were precipitated into the water. Those who came up afterwards threw away their arms and clothes, and cast themselves naked into the river. Late at night, when the flight of Daud was reported, the Emperor gave thanks to heaven, and as soon as it was light Khan-khanan having assured himself of the fact, the royal forces, entered the city with great display. Fifty-six elephants, which the enemy had been unable to carry off, were found in the city and paraded before His Majesty. The date of the fall of Patna, which was indeed the conquest of Bengal, is found in this line, "Mulk-i Sulaiman zi Daud raft" (983).