[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Mughals (1526–1857)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal) › [Akbar (1556–1605)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar) › [Akbarnāma](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama) › [The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge) › 241 # The Book of Akbar 241: CHAPTER XLII. The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II 241 - **Language:** English ### [241](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.241) One day Baqi Salih, who was one of the valiant men of the garrison, eagerly brought M. Kamran near the Iron Gate, and boastingly said that by one sally he would bring Sher ‘Ali in by this gate. When they opened the gate a number of the Mirza’s braves came out. The men of the battery, such as Muhammad Qasim Khan Mauji, Qasim Mukhlis, and Jamil Beg came forward and showed alacrity and courage. Sumbul Khan and 60 or 70 slaves did good execution with their muskets. Jamil Beg was martyred, and Baqi Salih, who was the cause of this disturbance, was killed by a bullet, and Jalalu-d-din Beg, who was one of the Mirza's confidants, was severely wounded. Many others also were wounded. They failed in their object and closed the gate of the fort. Sher ‘Ali despaired of entering the fort and hurried off to Ghaznin. His Majesty Jahanbani despatched after him Khizr Khwaja Khan, Musahib Beg, Ismail Beg Duldai, and a large body of troops in order that they might by dint of courage make those luckless ones prisoners. They came up with Sher ‘Ali at the Sajawand pass, and an engagement took place. The imperialists were victorious, and many horses and goods fell into their hands. Many prisoners were also made. Sher ‘Ali escaped with a few men to the Hazarajat and took refuge in the house of Khizr Khan. The imperialists returned victorious with much booty and were rewarded by boundless favours. The plundered merchants, who had taken protection at the holy court, were told to take whatever goods and horses they recognised, and thus many horses and goods were restored to their owners. This occurrence was a revival of fortune. The rebel prisoners were brought in front of the batteries and publicly put to death with varied punishments so that those who were slumbering on the bed of error might be aroused. When there was no entrance or egress by any gate, and by no door could he obtain victory for his designs, and no road was open save that of failure, M. Kamran set himself in his evil mind to punish sheltered striplings and innocent children and to defile pure-skirted ones. He made over the wife of Babus to the people of the bazaar, and spilled upon the ground, with cruel tortures, the blood of his three boys, one of whom was seven, the other five, and the third three years old, and flung them down from the top of the fort to near the batteries of Qaraca Khan and Musahib Beg. He also hung upon the battlements Sirdar Beg the son of Qaraca Beg and Khuda Dost the son of Musahib Beg, and sent a message to them to come and see him, or to let him depart, or to withdraw the king from the siege. Otherwise he would kill their sons as he had done those of Babus. Qaraca Khan, who was then prime minister, cried out with a loud voice, “God save His Majesty the king. Our houses and homes and our children must one day perish, and their non-existence cannot be avoided. What better thing can there be than their coming to an end in the path of their master and benefactor. What are children when our lives are a sacrifice for His Majesty. Depart from those vain thoughts, and come and humbly submit, which will prove your salvation and be the ornamentation of your life, so that as your well-wishers we may do for you the utmost in our power. Why do you frighten us by killing our children? If our children be really put to death, revenge for that is at hand.” His Majesty sent for Qaraca Khan and Musahib Beg and soothed them by sympathetic words and favours. The Mirza struck at men’s honour and reputation by most unseemly conduct towards their women and children. He suspended the wife of Muhammad Qasim Khan Mauji by the breasts (pistan basta). And inasmuch as the Mirza was sick with vexation and envy, every opposition which he in appearance made against His Majesty Jahanbani was really resistance and opposition to the Almighty Creator. Every act of such a tyrant must inevitably fail of success, and in the end becomes the cause of his temporal and spiritual ruin. - [Previous: 240.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.240.6) - [Next: 242](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.242) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.241](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.241) · Pramāṇa