The Book of Akbar 288: CHAPTER LVIII.
The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II 288
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CHAPTER LVIII.
288.1
it is proper, before detailing events, to give the names of such of the companions of the stirrup of victory as were of high rank. List. When the army arrived at the auspicious town of Kalanur, Shihabu-d-din Ahmad Khan, Ashraf Khan and Farhat Khan were sent to Lahore to have the glorious name (of Humayun) proclaimed from the pulpit and placed upon the coinage, and also to give the inhabitants of that great city an order of protection from the mischief of strifemongers. Bairam Khan, Tardi Beg Khan, Iskandar Khan, Khizr Khan Hazara, Isma'il Beg Duldai and a large troop were sent against Nasib Khan Panj Bhaiya (?) who was stationed at Harhana (Hariana) while His Majesty himself went on to Lahore. The nobles of that country came forward to welcome him. They offered up thanks for this glorious favour and gave large presents. High and low were treated with royal favours according to their degree. On the 2nd Rabi'-s-sani, (24th February, 1555), the illustrious city of Lahore, which is in fact a great city of India, was made glorious by his advent, and all classes and conditions of men were freed from the evils of the times, and attained the objects for which they had been long waiting on hope’s highway.
288.2
In the end of this month news came that an Afghan named Shahbaz Khan had collected a number of Afghans in Dipalpur and was indulging in evil intentions. His Majesty Jahanbani sent to that quarter Shah Abu’-l-Ma'ali 'Ali Quli Khan Shaibani, 'Ali Quli Khan Andarabi, Muhammad Khan Jalair and a number of brave officers. A hot engagement ensued, and both sides exposed their lives. The Sayyidzada Abu’-l-Ma‘ali who was intoxicated with the world and proud of his beauty, got into difficulty but 'Ali Quli Khan and other heroes performed wonders. The enemy was defeated and many of them were levelled with the dust. The imperial servants returned victorious. Now that I have proceeded so far it is necessary that I give a brief account of the victorious army which was placed under the leadership of Bairam Khan. Let it not be hidden from the inquirers into events that when Bairam Khan arrived near pargana Harhana (Hariana), Nasib Khan Afghan made a small resistance—suitable to his nature,—and then fled. Great booty in money and goods fell into the hands of the heroes. Families also were captured. As Bairam Khan had heard from His Majesty Jahanbani that he had vowed there should be no imprisonment when he should, by God’s help, conquer India, and that the servants of God should not be confined, he got on horseback and collected together all the families of the Afghans and sent them with trustworthy people to Nasib Khan.
288.3
And he sent as the proceeds of this victory, which might be regarded as the preface to countless others, presents of elephants, etc., with a petition of his own to the world-protecting court of His Majesty Jahānbānī. Having offered up thanks for this agreeable victory, he left that place and advanced further. When he came near Jalandhar, the Afghans thought it prudent to fly, and owing to the disputes which occurred in the victorious army, they were able to save their lives and the best of their property. The short account of this is that Tardi Beg Khan wanted to go after the dispersed Afghans and Bairam Khan did not approve of this and did not give him permission. Tardi Beg Khān sent Baltu Khan to Bairam Khan in order that by all means possible he might get leave to pursue them. Baltu Beg came and delivered his message and Khwaja Mu'azzam Sultan spoke harshly and abused him. Baltu Khan retorted and the Khwaja used his sword and wounded Baltu Khan in the arm. When His Majesty heard of this he wrote a letter of admonition and sent Afzal Khan to explain matters. He conveyed His Majesty’s counsels to the officers and brought about a reconciliation. Bairam Khan halted in Jalandhar, and assigned parganas in the neighbourhood to the various officers and sent them to their several posts. Sikandar Khan was appointed to Mācīwāra. He went and thinking he had it in hand, advanced further, and took possession of Sihrind. Much property fell into his hands.
288.4
Meanwhile Tatar Khan, Habīb Khan, Naṣīb Khan, Mubarak Khan and a number of Afghan soldiers arrived from Delhi. Sikandar Khan did not think it prudent to remain in Sihrind and came to Jalandhar. Bairam Khan did not approve of this and was angry. He said that Sikandar should have kept his ground at Sihrind and have sent word to him. After much discussion the great officers took hold of the saddle-straps of the royal, everduring fortune and advanced from Jalandhar. When they came to the borders of Mācīwāra, Tardi Muhammad Khan and many officers did not think it advisable to cross the Satlaj. As the rainy season was near at hand the proper thing to do, they said, was to secure the ferries and to halt. When the violence of the rains was over, and the air had become temperate, they could cross the river. Bairam Khan and the farsighted perceived that it was right to cross the river and spoke properly in this sense. At length by the exertions of Mulla Pir Muhammad, Muhammad Qasim Khan of Nīshāpūr, Wali Beg and Haidar Quli Beg Shāmlū, Bairam Khan crossed the river. Tardi Beg Khan and the other officers were obliged to do likewise. The army of fortune was divided into four bands. The centre was controlled by Bairam Khan, the right wing by Khizr Khan Hazara, the left wing by Tardi Beg Khan, while Sikandar Khan and a number of active men were appointed to the vanguard.
288.5
As the desires of the prince of the world were limited to the laws of justice and were in accordance with the Divine Will, the work of his ministers was daily more and more victorious. When the Afghans heard of the smallness of the victorious army and of its having crossed the river, they hastily came up with a large force. The two forces encountered one another towards evening and a great battle took place. The farseeing soldiers chose a place near Bijana (?) for the battle field and stood firm. All distinguished themselves, but at last night intervened. Even then they continued to discharge arrows. By a happy chance, which was the beginning to the victory, fire broke out in a very large village of thatched houses and this was like the lighting of thousands of lamps for the guidance of the troops. It was found on inquiry that this Divine aid was wrought by the exertions of the enemy. And what they had thought was for their advantage turned to their loss. In fact by means of this illumination, which was the vanguard of victory, the conquering heroes obtained information concerning the position of the enemy and were enabled to work havoc with their arrows. The foe did not know the position of the victorious army and shot in the dark and at random. When about three watches of the night had passed, the enemy was unable to resist any longer and took to flight. A great victory was gained. Elephants and much other property fell into the hands of the imperial servants.
288.6
The chief of the booty was sent with a loyal petition to the Court. Next day they advanced and halted in Sihrind and ‘Ali Quli Shaibani who had come up with the rear, was sent on with a body of troops. One of the wonderful things was that when His Majesty heard that Tatar Khan had arrived with a large and well equipped army at Mācīwāra, he remarked to a number of eager spirits that the place was a great distance off and that whatever the Divine Will intended would take place before they could arrive. The best thing therefore was for them to take refuge at the sublime threshold and to implore victory from the almonry of Divine aid. At the same moment he raised high the hands of supplication and asked for the success of the advance forces of the royal army. Many days had not passed when the official report of the victory arrived and much booty was brought to the Court. On consideration, it was found that the day of prayer and the day of victory coincided. He paid the devotions of thanksgiving for the Providential victory and opened the hand of liberality for mankind. When Sikandar heard what had taken place, he marched against the royal army with 80,000 horse and a complete equipment. Bairam Khān with abundant prudence and courage remained firm in Sihrind and took measures to defend the fort. He sent representations one after the other requesting the advance of His Majesty.
288.7
As the latter was at that time suffering from cholic, he sent in his room the parterre-adorner of the Khilāfat, viz., His Majesty the Shāhinshāh who always had victory at his stirrup. The cortège of this khedive of the world had not gone far from Lahore when His Majesty Jahānbānī perfectly recovered, and on account of the distress of separation, and also out of precaution joined in the march. He directed that Farhat Khān should be the Shiqdār of Lahore, Bābūs Beg the faujdār of the Panjāb, M. Shāh Sultān the amīn and Mihtar Jauhar the treasurer. On the night of 7th Rajab, (29th May, 1555), the territory of Sihrind was illuminated by the royal advent. The officers did homage, and the drums of rejoicing were beaten. For fifteen days the officers had kept their ground in the face of such a large army and had occupied themselves in garrison-work. The royal tents were erected in a garden near the city. The arrangements for battle were suitably made and the army was distributed into four divisions. One was called by the honoured name of His Majesty Jahānbānī; another by that of His Majesty the Shāhinshāh; a third by that of Shāh Abū'l-Ma'ālī; the fourth was entrusted to Bairām Khān. Each division bound the girdle of effort on the waist of their lives. The heroes displayed a willingness to risk their lives, and on each side men drank the last draught in the cup of the sword.
288.8
On both sides humanity and gentleness were practised so that the bodies of those who had sacrificed their lives, were reverently made over to their friends. The shortsighted looking to the plurality of the enemy and the paucity of the king's forces, became pale from unbecoming apprehensions, but the farsighted read the inscription of victory on the countenances of the imperial servants and daily became more and more steadfast. Especially did His Majesty Jahanbani, who was a world of resolution, hearten every one by fitting behaviour, and inspire them with courage.