The Book of Akbar 177: Account of Yadgar Nasir Mirza.
The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II 177
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Account of Yadgar Nasir Mirza.
177.1
He made Luhri his residence when his Majesty left him at Bhakkar. Twice did the garrison attack him by surprise, and, willing or unwilling, the Mirza showed courage in these engagements. Muhammad 'Alī Qābūzī (i.e., door-keeper) and Sher-dil, both of them related to Mun'im Khan, bravely drained the wholesome cup of martyrdom. On a third occasion, they (the enemy) had the daring to leave their boats and draw up their forces on the sands. On this occasion the Mīrzā's men showed such superiority that nearly 300 or 400 of the enemy were killed, and the hot sand was saturated with the evil blood of those victims. Such fear fell upon the enemy that they did not again venture to come out. Mlrza Shah Husain increased his craft and led the Mirza out of the straight path. He sent his seal-bearer, Babar Quli, to him, representing that he was old and had no sympathiser, that he would give him his daughter in marriage and make over his treasures to him, that he did not wish to spend uselessly the few remaining days of his borrowed life, and that they two together might conquer Gujrat. In fine he deceived that simpleton by lying promises, and the latter being void of understanding and crooked in thought, stained his forehead with disloyalty.
177.2
If he had had a particle of magnanimity or a glimmering of discernment, he would never even for valid promises have planted his foot in the circle of disloyalty, nor have hearkened to the interested representations of the perfidious, but would have practised honesty and kept his head erect! When his Majesty Jahanbani saw the straits to which the army was reduced, he sent a messenger to Yadgar Nasir Mlrza requesting him to fall quickly upon the ruler of Tatta, who was blocking up the way, so that the army might emerge from the strait of difficulty into ample space. Though the Mlrza had in his heart became alienated, yet he preserved appearances a little by sending out an advance-camp. But with the same crudity of thought, he delayed and loitered in marching out. Thereupon his Majesty Jahanbani sent Shaikh 'Abdu-l-ghafur, who was sprung from the Shaikhs of Turkistan, and whom his Majesty had made one of his intimates, to contrive that the Mirza should advance quickly. But that worthless fellow walked crookedly and as the saying is,— Verse. This very road on which you are going leads (also) to Turkistan. He perverted his mission and by his improper language so affected the short-sighted Mirza that he even neglected appearances and recalled his advance-camp.
177.3
When his Majesty Jahanbani perceived that the times were so unpropitious, and that the army’s difficulties were beyond conception, he saw that it was useless to remain longer near the fort (Sehwan), and proceeded on 17th Zi’l-qa'da (23rd February, 1542), towards Bhakkar and Luhri. At this juncture one of Yadgar Nasir Mirza’s censurable acts was, that at the instigation of the ruler of Tatta, he seized and sent to him Gandam and Hala, who were loyal zamindars, and had shown their loyalty by collecting boats, &c. That unrighteous one put them to death in punishment for the meritorious act of this service. His Majesty passed over this vile act and a hundred like it and was always for conciliation, thinking that perchance he (the Mirza) would write words of regret on the page of his actions and come into the house of amendment. When the sublime standards reached the borders of Luhri, Yadgar Nasir Mirza came out with a body of men to attack the camp. His Majesty on hearing this immediately got on horseback. Hashim Beg, who was one of the Mirza’s right-thinking confidants, on hearing of this shameful proceeding, went quickly to him and violently seizing his rein, turned him back. He chided and reproved him, and speaking bitterly and harshly, said “Apparently gentlemanly feeling, shame, respect and reverence have left the world. In what religion and by what canons of reason and sense, is it allowable to exhibit such levity and to set oneself up against one's benefactor?”