The Book of Akbar 175.1
The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II 175.1
- Language
- English
175.1.1
A trench was dug in front of the army, and the artillery carriages were put into position and redoubts (murcalha) constructed. Opposite to this, Sher Khan drew up a crowd of rebels and encamped after digging a trench. Every day the young men on each side came out and engaged. Meanwhile the sun entered Cancer, and the rainy season began. The clouds gathered with tumult, like rutting elephants, and distilled moisture. The encampment became flooded, and they were compelled to seek for high ground which should be free from water and mud, and where the tents, the artillery-park, &c. might be placed. It was arranged that the army should be drawn out on the morning of the 'Ashar day, (10th Muharram) and that if the enemy should come out of his trenches and advance, they would fight, and if he remained stationary, they would encamp in the selected spot. With this view they mounted their horses on 10th Muharram 947 (17th May, 1540), and drew up their lines. Muhammad Khan Rumi and the sons of Ustad 'Ali Quli and Ustad Ahmad Rumi, and Hasan Khalfat, who were the directors of the artillery, arranged the gun-carriages and mortars, and stretched chains according to rule. The centre was dignified by the presence of his Majesty; M. Hindal had the fore-centre; M. 'Askari the right wing, and Yadgar Nasir Mirza the left. M.
175.1.2
Haidar writes in his Tarikh-i-rashidi “His Majesty on that day stationed me on his left so that my right was close to his left, and from me up to the end of the left centre there were twenty-seven bannerets. Sher Khan arranged his forces in five divisions, two, which were the largest, stood in front of the trench, and then advanced. Jalal Khan, Sarmast Khan, and all the Niyazis faced in front of M. Hindal. Mubaraz Khan, Bahadur Khan, Rai Husain Jalwani and ordered. all the Kararani faced Yadgar Nasir Mirza and Qasim Husain Khan. Khawass Khan, Barmazid and many others came opposite M. ‘Askari. The first encounter was between M. Hindal and Jalal Khan. A wondrous hand to hand fight occurred and Jalal Khan fell from his horse. The royal left wing drove back the enemy to their centre. When Sher Khan saw this, he made an onset in person with a large force, while Khawass Khan and his companions fell upon M. ‘Askari. As soon as the Afghans attacked, many officers did not stand their ground but gave way. His Majesty twice attacked the foe and threw them into confusion. Though it is not reckoned that the king himself should share in a fray, yet at that time of testing manhood, how could rules be adhered to? Hence two lances were broken in his Majesty’s hands on that occasion and the claims of endeavour and courage were satisfied.
175.1.3
But the brothers did not show brotherhood, and the captains did not keep the foot of fortitude in the circle of steadfastness, but from superfluity of naughtiness were negligent, and brought disaster on their lord. It would seem as though when this externally and internally great man, who saw with the eyes of truth and was capable of contemplating mysteries, went on this expedition with such a small army, full of hypocrisy, empty of sincerity, it had crossed his lofty mind that it was many degrees better to hasten to the city of annihilation on the steed of valour and to urge on the horse of his life to the goal of nothingness, than to be courteous to friendship-affecting enemies, to league oneself in hypocrisy with them, and to play the game (nurd) of altercation (radd u badl) with unfair gamesters. Better a mirage (sarab) than a river (ab) which must be drunk in company with those wretches (abruyan)! Such to men of the world clearly appeared to be the case from his method of personal onset. Some of the loyal and single-hearted smote the hand of intercession and solicitude on the stirrup of dominion and forcibly withdrew him. This I say looking to the processes of the world of secondary causes. But in the world of reality, it was God, the world adorner, who withdrew him! Inasmuch as the ascension of the birth-star and the glorious celebration of the apparition of his Majesty, the king of kings (Akbar), were drawing nigh, the wondrous Creator manifested such strange marvels!
175.1.4
One school of sages considers that such events are intended to quicken the attention and to arouse the noble-minded, and are not of the nature of recompense for actions. Accordingly it was held by ancient philosophers that worldly calamities were a process of polishing for the elect, and of rusting for the crowd. A number of the enlightened and pure-hearted are of opinion that such occurrences are a process of education. When the stewards of fate's workshop are advancing a chosen vessel to a lofty rank, they first make him compact of all worldly states, of joy and sorrow, health and sickness, ease and labour, expansion and contraction, so that he may be fitted for the lofty rank of sovereignty. And many of the swift traversers of the fields of contemplation are agreed that the reason of such trials is because it is God's will that whenever the boon of greatness is to be bestowed on an auspicious one and the time of attaining that blessing be close at hand, there should be in that period’s antechamber a station of labours, and a vent of trials; and that the dust of blemish should mark the skirts of his grandeur and glory so that when he hath ascended to the perfect stage and the most distant height, this mole-stain may prove his charm against the fatal eye. To speak more clearly;
175.1.5
as the times of the appearances of the Holy Light in mortal manifesters and human ascension-points—such as was the holy office of her Majesty Alanqua—were made resplendent in mysterious withdrawals and apparitions of divers individuals, and so planted themselves in the visible world, and were acquiring, under God's special supervision, the acmé of development, so,—now that the period of the showing forth of the final cause of that Light, to wit, the holy incarnation of his Majesty, the king of kings, was at hand,—untoward occurrences were made the prophylactic charm of this great blessing. Such was the beauteous fashioning of Creation's workshop! And now I return from the unveiling of mysteries to the thread of my narrative. In fine, when defeat (shikastī), which was to lay the foundation of the righting (durustī) of the world, made its appearance, the officers fled without fighting to the bank of the Ganges, which was about four miles (a farsakh) distant, and as the requital of their disloyalty and ingratitude, sank in the whirlpool of disappointment, giving the vessels of their lives to the boisterous waters of annihilation in recompense of their unrighteousness. His Majesty Jahanbani mounted with firm foot on an elephant and proceeded across the river. He descended from the elephant at the water's edge and was looking around for an exit. As the bank was high, no way out presented itself.
175.1.6
One of the soldiers who had been saved out of the whirlpool came there and seizing his Majesty's sacred hand drew him up. In truth he then, by help of heaven’s favouring hand, drew to himself fortune and power. His Majesty asked him his name and birthplace. He made answer “My name is Shamsu-d-dīn Muhammad, my birthplace is Ghazni, and I am a servant of M. Kamran.” His Majesty made him hopeful of princely favours. Just then Muqaddam Beg, one of M. Kāmrān’s officers, recognised his Majesty and enrolled himself among those who had received the gospel of good fortune. Acting upon this, he brought forward his horse, and obtained the news of distinction from royal promises. His Majesty proceeded from there towards Agra, and was joined on the way by the Mirzas. When they came to the environs of Bhangāpūr the villagers closed the market against the king's men, and behaved in an unruly manner, attacking every one who fell into their hands. When the august mind was informed of this, M. ‘Askarī, Yādgār Nāsir M. and M. Hindāl were ordered to attack the villains and to chastise them. Nearly 3,000 horse and foot of the insolent knaves had gathered together. When the royal order arrived, M. ‘Askarī delayed to proceed and Yadgar Nasir Mirza gave him some strokes with his whip, saying that it was from his discord that things had come to such a pass. Still he did not take warning, and Yadgar Nasir Mirza and M. Hindal obeyed and went against the crowd.
175.1.7
A great fight ensued, and a large number of the ill-fated villagers (gāwārān) were killed. The Mirzas after giving them a lesson returned, and M. Askari who had come to complain, was reprehended. His Majesty Jahanbani hastened on to Agra. The provinces were in confusion and sedition raised its head on every side. Next morning his Majesty proceeded to the dwelling of that great exemplar, Mir Rafi, who was sprung from the Safavi Sayyids, and was incomparable for knowledge and wisdom, and was the choice favourite of princes. He took counsel with him, and the final conclusion of his Majesty was that he should go towards the Panjab. If M. Kamran were helped by the sovereignty of reason and auspiciousness, and should bind on himself the girdle of good service and come actively forward to help, the rift of strife might still be closed. With this right intention he proceeded to Lahor. M. Askari went to Sambal and M. Hindal to Alwar. On 18th Muharram (26th May, 1540) Qasim Husain Sultan joined the king near Dihli through the influence of Beg Mirak, and a large body of men collected for the king's service. On the 20th he again set out, and on the 22nd M. Hindal and M. Haidar joined him in Rohtak. On the 23rd his Majesty halted there. The garrison shut the gate of the city in his face, thereby opening the doors of disgrace for themselves. His Majesty addressed himself to the attack and in a short space of time chastised the garrison.
175.1.8
On 17th Safar the army arrived at Sihrind and on the 20th Mir Faqr Ali closed life's litter while on the march. When the army approached Lahor and were near Daulat Khan's sarāi, M. Kamran came forward to meet him and did homage. His Majesty alighted in the garden of Khwaja Dost Munshi which is the most charming spot in Lahor, while M. Hindal took up his quarters in the garden of Khwaja Ghazi, who was then M. Kamran’s diwan. After that M. ‘Askari came from Sambal and settled himself in the house of Amir Wali Beg. At this time the fortunate Shamsu-d-din Muhammad who had given his hand at the river-bank, arrived and was exalted by princely favours. On the 1st Rabi‘u-l-awwal, 947, all the noble brothers and Amirs and other servants collected but in spite of so many lessons and celestial warnings, these fine fellows (‘azizan) were not taught and did not bind the girdle of sincerity on the waist of resolve. Several times they gathered together on his Majesty’s service, and deliberated and made vows and promises of unity and concord, and took the great and godly as their witnesses. Khwaja Khawand Mahmud, brother of Khwaja ‘Abdu-l-haqq and Mir Abu-l-baqa frequently took part in the deliberations. At length one day all the Mirzas, nobles and grandees having been assembled, wrote out a deed (tazkira) of concord and unanimity, and to this auspicious minute all the officers gave their signatures.