The Book of Akbar 157.4

157.4

Thirty-nine had ascended when his Majesty himself wished to climb. Bairam Khan begged him to delay till the men ahead had got higher up. Saying this he himself stepped up, his Majesty Jahanbani followed him and was the 41st. there he had about 300 men drawn up by this iron ladder. An order was given that the victorious army, which was stationed at the batteries, should attack the fort. The garrison were thrown off their guard, and addressed themselves to repel the men from without and were looking down from the battlements when suddenly the 300 braves came from behind, and overwhelmed the garrison with showers of arrows. And when they realised the fact that his Majesty Jahanbanī in person had ascended the stairs of victory, the bewildered foe crept into hiding-places. The drum of victory beat high, and Ikhtiyār Khān went off to a higher point called Mūlīya and there took refuge. Next day they gave him quarter and sent for him. Together with his practical knowledge (dānish) and his management of state affairs he was fully possessed of sciences, especially mathematics and astronomy. He was also skilled as a poet and composer of enigmas. He was honoured by being allowed to sit in the assembly of the learned, and was distinguished by princely favours, and was admitted among the intimates of the threshold of sovereignty. One of the eloquent found the date of this victory “Awwal hafta-i-Māh-i-Safar” i.e., first week of Safar (943)—19th-26th July, 1536.