[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) › 284 # The Book of Akbar 284: CHAPTER LVII. The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II 284 - **Language:** English ### CHAPTER LVII. ### [284.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.284.1) that evil-looking one of puny form and lofty designs was ranked among the petty hucksters of Rewari which is a township of Mewat. For his family, (nasal), he belonged to the Dhusar tribe which is the lowest class of hucksters in India. At the back of lanes he sold saltpetre (nimak-i-shor) with thousands of mortifications (ba hazaran bini-malci) till at last he by means of astuteness, became a government huckster under Salim Khan, of whom a short account has already been given. By masterpieces of feline trickery, he gradually made himself known to Salim Khan by evil-speaking and business capacity. He was always getting people into trouble. Apparently he was behaving loyally towards his master, in reality he was seeking his own ends, and decking his own household with the goods of the oppressed. Avaunt; avaunt! he was preparing destruction for his lord and striking the axe into his own foot. Here the great ones of the world made a big mistake for these much-occupied ones from their wishing to know about men give place to wicked talebearers, either in order to learn hidden things about them or to punish evildoers. ### [284.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.284.2) Though they make an engagement with themselves that they will not use the information for attacking the reputation and honour of the good and loyal, yet the outwardly well-seeming but inwardly base crew of men seize their opportunity and for their own advantage attack the loyal with their smooth tongues,—while the great sometimes, owing to the multiplicity of business, forget the engagements with themselves and become suspicious of the loyal and raze the foundations of their own power. In short this wicked man soon got a place in Salim Khan’s affections by misrepresentation, and obtained a footing in the administration. When the measure of Salim Khan’s life was full, and the period of the sway of the evildoers of India had come to Mubariz Khan aforesaid who was Salim Khan’s cousin, Himu found him careless of worldly affairs and annexed the whole of the administration and rose to lofty offices. Nothing remained to Mubariz Khan, who was commonly known as 'Adli (tyrant), except the name (of king). Himu undertook all appointments and dismissals, and the distribution of justice. In his foresight he got possession of the treasures of Sher Khān and Salīm Khān and of their elephant-stud. He was freehanded in disposing of their accumulations. His base debtors worshipped him and did his behests. For some days he took the title of Rai and then he fastened the title of Raja on himself and assumed the style of the Raja Bikramajīt. Thus did he in his folly apply great names to himself. ### [284.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.284.3) From foresight he preserved the nominal sovereignty for 'Adlī and waged great wars against his opponents. By his valour and daring he was victorious and performed great deeds. He became famous for courage and capability. By degrees he advanced so far as to venture to encounter the sublime army of His Majesty the Shāhinshāh. But as this holy personality was the touchstone of the good and bad, his counterfeit coin was tested and his black existence annihilated by the lights of world-illuminating justice! This will be related in its proper place. Now that one out of a thousand of Hīmū’s evil behaviours has been described, I proceed to a brief account of Hindustan. When the sovereignty came to Mubāriz Khān, the affairs of India became worse than before. In fact both father and son (i.e., Sher Khān and Salīm) behaved properly in the management of affairs. Alas! that they should have spent their days in disloyalty and ingratitude! If these two had been servants of the sublime threshold of His Majesty the Shāhinshāh, and if the home administration had been entrusted to the father, and the guardianship of the marches to the son, they would have been encompassed with royal favours, and have gained, by good service, an existence which the wise regard as real life. Such workers deserved such a master. As for the vulgar form of rule which is brought about by rebellion, it is regarded by the wise as an existence inferior by many degrees to death. ### [284.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.284.4) In short when Salīm Khān died, Mubāriz Khān showed such behaviour as may no other person evince! Ahmad Khān Sūr the sister’s husband of Salīm Khān who had charge of the Panjāb, became a claimant for the sovereignty and styled himself Sikandar Khān. And Muhammad Khān, who was nearly connected with Sher Khān and was the Governor of Bengal, aimed at general supremacy. Ibrāhīm Khān Sūr who was also a relation, set about obtaining the rule of India while Shajā'at Khān, who was commonly known as Sājāwal Khān, raised his head high in Mālwa. The vagabond Afghans gathered together and caused confusion. Sikandar collected the army of the Panjab and other vagabonds and meditated an attack upon Agra. Mubariz Khan and Ibrahim advanced with the same intention. At last by the wishes of Himu, Mubariz Khan went off to the eastward, and a battle took place near Agra, between Sikandar and Ibrahim. Ibrahim was defeated and had to retire, while his father Ghazi Khan Sur, who governed Biana, sheltered himself in the fort. Sikandar’s affairs became prosperous and he got possession of the country from the Indus to the Ganges. He collected an army and wished to march eastwards to dispose of the claimant to the throne and to become sole monarch. At this time the reverberation of the advance of His Majesty Jahanbani Jannat-ashyani for the conquest of India rose high. Tatar Khan and Habil Khan and a large body of troops were appointed to defend the Panjab. ### [284.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.284.5) Muhammad Khan, the Governor of Bengal, determined to rid himself of Mubariz Khan and other competitors. After some other events, a great battle took place near Chapparghatta between him and Mubariz Khan and Himu, and Muhammad Khan fell. The treasures of Sher Khan and Salim Khan came into Himu’s hands. He sank into the enjoyment of corporeal pleasures, and in appearance his circumstances improved. At this time he fought battles with Ibrahim and other competitors. He was everywhere victorious. And though he did not know how to ride a horse and was always carried about in an elephant-box (sanduq-i-fil or hauda) he in his courage and audacity freely spent the money which had come of itself into his hands, and did great deeds such as men could not conceive. As Sikandar was established in Agra, he went off to Bihar and Bengal. Khizr Khan, the son of Muhammad Khan took his father’s place and assumed a great title, calling himself Sl. Jalalu-d-din. He applied himself to the management of Bengal. Mubariz Khan and Himu determined to go to Bengal, but spent some time in getting rid of their opponents. But I leave these details, which I have no inclination to describe in the closet of neglect, to proceed to my legitimate subject. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.284](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.284) · Pramāṇa