[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) › 299 # The Book of Akbar 299 The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II 299 - **Language:** English ### [299.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.299.1) Incidence of a flash of indication of a journey to the world of holiness on the inward mirror of His Majesty Jahanbani Jinnat Ashiyani, and his departure for that world. Let it not be concealed from inquiring minds that at about the time when His Majesty the Shahinshah, the young shoot of the parterre of insight, obtained leave to go to the Panjab, there frequently rose on the lips of His Majesty Jahanbani Jinnat Ashiyani the mention of a departure to the world of holiness. Contrary to his laudable habit of regarding such references as unbecoming (makruh), as being repugnant to the management of affairs, and of avoiding them in conversation, he now took pleasure in speaking on the subject. Seemingly the flash had pictured itself in the antechamber of his mystery-knowing heart. Among such references there was this that one day he quoted with commendation the true words of His Majesty Geti-sitani Firdaus-Makani, when he remarked in a meeting of friends that a servant of his used to say that whenever he saw the graves in Ghaznin he felt an inclination to die. Following up this, His Majesty would say that when he contemplated Delhi and its shrines the words recurred to his memory, and he thought how sweet they were ! At about the same time and when he was proceeding towards the eternal world he said to several of his familiars : “ This day after paying my morning devotions a mysterious thing occurred and a secret inspiration brought this quatrain on my lips : ### [299.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.299.2) “O God, make me wholly Thine. Acquaint me with Thine attributes. Tyrannous Reason hath crippled my soul. Call me Thine own madman and set me free.” Tears fell from his truth-seeing eyes while he was reciting these lines, and complete detachment was manifested on his irradiated brows. About the time, too, when the Court was at Delhi, the eye-brightener of the Khilafat, to wit, His Majesty the Shahinshah, one night beheld in a dream that someone was pulling up his musky (black) locks. When he awoke he told the dream to Maham Anaga, the mother of Adham Khan. She summoned all the skilled interpreters and asked them what the dream portended. When this question was put to His Majesty Jahanbani he said: “Evil will be far from his (Akbar’s) head.” Afterwards he told them quietly of his own inevitable doom, and administered consolation to them. Constantly during those days he was uttering words which had for the organs of the farseeing among the courtiers the savour of a passage from this transitory world which all must quit, and which divided the joints and marrow of the faithful of soul. Among other things, he wrote with his own hand on the arch of his portico these opening lines of a poem by Shaikh Azari:— Verse. I’ve heard that on this gilded dome (the sky) ’t is writ The end of all things is praiseworthy. ### [299.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.299.3) He also when near his departure reduced his consumption of opium, so much so that he said to his intimates “We’ll see for how many more days two or three pellets (habb) will suffice.” He had seven days’ supply divided and wrapped in paper, and made over to his body-servants, and he said to them “this is all the opium we shall eat.” On the day which was the first stage of his journey to the region of holiness and detachment, there remained four pellets. He sent for these, and partook thereof in rosewater. ### [299.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.299.4) At the close of Friday Rabi’-al-awwal 963, Shah others who had returned Blochmann's remarks thereon. A.F.’s statement that the fall occurred on a Friday is supported by the circumstance that a number of worshippers were assembled at the adjoining mosque, as would naturally be the case on a Friday, and also by the testimony of Katibi-Rumi, the Turkish admiral, Sidi ‘Ali Reis. He was in Delhi at the time; and, though he does not expressly say so, he was apparently present at the last audience. His words (Vambery's translation, Luzac, 1899, p. 55) are: “All was ready for the start (the Admiral's). Humayun had given audience on Friday even, when, upon leaving his castle of pleasure, the Muezzin announced the Ezan just as he was descending the staircase. It was his wont, whenever he heard the summons, to bow the knee in holy reverence. He did so now, but unfortunately fell down several steps, and received great injuries to his head and arm.” Truly the proverb rightly says, ‘There is no guarding against fate.’ “Everything was confusion in the palace, but for two days they kept the matter secret. It was announced to the outer world that the sovereign was in good health, and alms were distributed amongst the poor. On the third day, however, that was on the Monday, he died of his wounds.” ### [299.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.299.5) It seems to me probable that the Turkish Admiral is the person referred to by A.F. as Caghatai Khan. No officer of Humayun's or Akbar’s of that name is mentioned anywhere, and Sidi ‘Ali may have got the sobriquet of Caghatai Khan on account of his proficiency in the Caghatai language. See the Turkish publisher's preface, Vambery, l.c., p. XVII. Sidi ‘Ali, too, had just come from Gujrat. Another reason for believing Friday to be the day, is that Friday was Humayun's day for holding receptions and granting audiences. See A.N. Cap., LXII. On the whole then, unless it can be established astronomically that Venus did not rise on Friday, 24th January 1556, I think we may take that to be the day of the accident. This date is further corroborated by Sidi ‘Ali's statement that he left for Lahore on a Thursday in the middle of Rabi’-al-awwal. He did not leave till after the death, and Thursday would be the 17th Rabi'-al-awwal. Vambery’s translation, contrary to that of Diez, makes Thursday the day of the Admiral's arrival at Lahore, but this is clearly wrong. ### [299.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.299.6) With regard to the place and circumstances of the accident there is from the Hijaz, and Caghatai Khan and some men from Gujrat came and made reports. Also Pahlwan Dost Mir Barr, and Maulana Asad came from Kabul with representations from Mun‘im Khan. At the end of the day he came out on the roof of the library which had recently been fitted up, and gave the people who were assembled at the chief mosque the blessing of performing homage (kornish). For a considerable time he asked questions about Holy Mecca and about Gujrat and Kabul. After that he sent for all the mathematicians, for it was expected that Venus would rise on that night and he wished to observe her; --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.299](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.299) · Pramāṇa