The Book of Akbar 172.1.6

172.1.6

Accordingly,—as the apparition of the light-increasing star of mortals, which by showing itself in dreamland from out of Qaculi Bahadur’s bosom had exalted the vigilant by the blessing of expectation, was drawing nigh,—the countenances of the thoughts of the meditative and farseeing are not scarred if before this there appeared some misfortunes. Thus did such things happen at the hands of sundry black-hearted, unwashed Afghans, to a force which might have conquered the universe. Thus was it that, contrary to the advice of ministers, the army marched against the Afghans, and came face to face with Sher Khan at the village of Bihlya which is a dependency of Bhojpur. There a black river called the Karmnasa (Text, Kanbas) flowed between the two armies. The royal army made a bridge over it and crossed. Though the royal army was small and many were without equipments, it was victorious in every skirmish, and the Afghans were slaughtered on every side. But the period of encountering and slaying was prolonged, and the great brethren, (Humayun's brothers), each of whom could have conquered a clime, placed, out of shortsightedness, a stumbling block in the way of their own fortune, and did not act harmoniously. The blessedness of learning what service was at such a crisis did not help their destiny. Though admonitory rescripts were sent to them, the impressions on these inspired tablets took no form in the minds of those iron-hearts.