Firishta's History (Gulshan-i Ibrāhīmī) 116.5.6

116.5.6

His officers recommended him at all events to wait till he could receive aid from Boorhan Nizam Shah of Ahmudnuggur, to whom it was proposed he should make overtures; but he insisted on marching immediately against his Mahomedan neighbour, who had attacked him without provocation. Information was accordingly given to the garrison of Kovilconda, that the King was marching to its relief. On reaching Gunpoora he sent an envoy to wait on Ismael Adil Shah, reprobating the system of the faithful attacking each other at the instigation of infidels; on which, Ismael Adil Shah, leaving a force to prosecute the siege of Kovilconda, advanced with the rest of his army to attack Sooltan Koolly. Sooltan Koolly now called a meeting of all the holy and learned men in his camp, and asked them if it were not lawful, by the tenets of the faith, to oppose any Mahomedan prince, who, unmindful of the principles of his religion, submitted to be bribed by an infidel to attack a Mahomedan neighbour for his sake? The council was of opinion that such an enemy ought himself to be treated as an infidel. Accordingly, having harangued his small body of troops, he marched to oppose the invader. On the right he placed Ein-ool-Moolk, on the left his general Futtehy Khan, and in the centre the Prince Heidur Khan, while himself remained in the reserve with a body of select cavalry at his own disposal. Ismael Adil Shah, also, having drawn out his army, the two forces engaged.