The Book of Akbar 166: CHAPTER XXV.
The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II 166
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CHAPTER XXV.
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Verse. I heard from a sage that wisdom is plentiful, But that it is scattered about among mankind. During the time that the royal standards were engaged in conquering Malwa and Gujrat, Sher Khan seized his opportunity and made great progress. The above is a sketch of the beginning of his career. The remainder of his story, the last of his actions, and his wretched end will be narrated in a parenthesis of the account of his Majesty Jahanbani, so that the authors of strife and contention may take warning therefrom. In fine, as the idea of an expedition to the eastern provinces had become fixed in the mind of his Majesty Jahanbani, Mir Faqr 'Ali, who had been one of the great officers of his Majesty Firdaus-makani Giti-sitani was appointed to the charge of Dihli while Agra was entrusted to Mir Muhammad Bakhshi, who was one of the trusted servants of the State. Yadgar Nasir Mirza, his Majesty's cousin, was sent to Kalpi which was his jagir in order to manage that quarter. Nuru-d-din Muhammad Mirza who was married to his Majesty's sister Gulrang Begam and was the progenitor of Salima Sultan Begam, was appointed to the charge of Qanauj. His Majesty having in this manner arranged the officers of his kingdom went off to the eastward by boat, along with his chaste and veiled consorts.
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Mirza ‘Askari and Mirza Hindal accompanied him, while among the officers were Ibrahim Beg Cabuq, Jahangir Quli Beg, Khusrau Beg Kokaltash, Tardi Beg Khan, Quc Beg, Tardi Beg of Etawa, Bairam Khan, Qasim Husain Khan Uzbak, Bucaka Beg, Zahid Beg, Dost Beg, Beg Mirak, Haji Muhammad (son of) Baba Qushqa, Ya'qub Beg, Nihal Beg, Roshan Beg, Mughul Beg and a large number of other distinguished men. The army proceeded by land and by water whilst his Majesty, sometimes sitting in a boat and sometimes riding on horse-back, deliberated on the affairs of state and proceeded towards the fort of Cunar where was Sher Khan. When the army drew nigh to Cunar, M. Muhammad Zaman came from Gujarat with the dust of confusion on his forehead and the drops of shame on his cheek, and had the happiness to be permitted to kiss the lofty threshold. The brief account of this occurrence is as follows. His Majesty’s dear sister Ma'suma Sultan Begam, the Mirza’s wife, had in Agra petitioned about the Mirza’s guilt and had received an order of reconciliation. His Majesty from his innate goodness, drew the line of forgiveness over his offences and directed that he should be sent for. When the Mirza arrived near the grand army, a number of high officers were sent to meet him, and when he was a day’s journey off, M. 'Askari and M. Hindal went out in accordance with the lofty commands and embraced him. M. 'Askari saluting him by raising his hand up to his breast, while M.
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Hindal saluted by putting his hand on his head. They brought the Mirza with respect to the camp and that day the Mirza, in accordance with the king’s command, was conveyed to his own tent. Next day he was brought to the lofty pavilion and having done homage, was treated with royal favours. Twice was he exalted in one assemblage by a special khil'at, a belt, a sword and a horse. Bravo! At the gate of God’s elect, sins are requited (lit. bought) by benefits, and wickednesses are reckoned as virtues. There is such plenty in the store-house of divine grace that His peculiar mercies are co-ordinate with offenders; in proportion as they increase their crimes and sins do they obtain increase of grace and forgiveness. This attribute is the more appropriate to princes in that they are the shadows of God, so that by passing over offences no harm is done to the breadth of their mercy and the amplitude of their power; and the wretch who is ashamed of his evil deeds, obtains an order of release from the pit of torture. In short his Majesty Jahanbani Jannat Ashyani, in spite of rebellion so great that (even) to pardon it were improper, became an expounder of the Divine ethics and returned good for evil. God be praised! His Majesty, the Shahinshah of the Age, (Akbar) hath these noble qualities and weighty ethics;
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they are part of his nature and of the essence of his holy soul, and in the meting out of punishment he practises a consideration and hesitation such as no other king has been adorned with from the cycle of Adam until now. In this book a few instances will be given out of many. May God Almighty increase daily this family and may He, in reward of this generous nature bestow plenteous blessings on his Majesty’s life and dominion! In short when Sher Khan was apprized of the uprearing of the victorious standards, he left his son Qutb Khan and many others in Cunar, and after strengthening the fort, departed to Bengal. He conquered that country in war and obtained much booty. When the world-conquering army of his Majesty Jahanbani Jannat-ashiyani encamped near Cunar, he applied himself to the taking of the fortress. Rumi Khan who was the paragon of the age for overcoming grand forts and sky-high castles, and who had left Sultan Bahadur after the victory of Mandasor, and been enrolled as one of his Majesty’s servants, and exalted by the office of Mir Atash (Director of Ordnance) constructed a covered way (sabat) upon boats and arranged such a roof (satha) with strong partitions (?) on the top of a platform of planks that the ingenious and skilful bit the finger of astonishment in admiration of the workmanship. And he carried such mines under the walls that when they were fired, Time and the Terrene (zamin u zaman) were shaken.
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Qutb Khan fled, and the remainder of the garrison asked for quarter and came out. The fort fell into the possession of the king’s servants. As for those admitted to quarter, they were about 2,000 in number, though his Majesty Jahanbani had ratified Rumi Khan’s promise and had pardoned (?) them, yet Mu’ayyid Beg Duldai, who was one of the confidential officers, added to the order that their hands should be cut off, and represented that this was the king’s command; such was the usurpation of authority that he displayed! His Majesty Jahanbani censured him for this. Rumi Khan received royal favours, and his influence and renown were increased. In return for his services the fort was made over to him, but in a few days he became by destiny an object of envy to the world and passed away, poisoned. When his mind was free of this affair, the expedition to Bengal presented itself before him. Nasib Shah, the ruler of Bengal, came