The Book of Akbar 328.1
The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II 328.1
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- English
328.1.1
Great God! How varied are the decrees of fate, and how multiplex the marks of destiny! A blade of grass cannot spring from the ground without some designs being involved in it, nor a leaf stir on a tree without sundry purposes being infolded therein! How then can one estimate the mysteries and consequences which lie hid under events which are responsible for a movement of a universe? Among such was this battle-garbed banquet! (bazm-i-razmnama) which was among the great causes of external order, and also the best means of guidance for those who had lost their way in the wilderness of error and destruction. The account of this great boon is as follows: The ill-fated Hemu was continually giving way to pride and arrogance, owing to his accumulation of incitements to infatuation, such as have already been briefly described. Especially was the Indian army encouraged by the catastrophe of Tardi Khan, and it was emboldened to contend with the hosts of Fortune. High and low were filled with pride and indulged in seditious imaginings. When the news of the march of the standards of Fortune were spread throughout the hostile army, Hemu sent his park of artillery, great both in quality and in quantity, in advance of himself, and under the charge of Mubarak Khan and Bahadur Khan, who were chief officers of his, to Panipat, which is nearly thirty kos from Delhi, and set about preparing for battle. It had not occurred to him that the victory-begotten troops would move with celerity.
328.1.2
When the lion-hearted men of the advanced guard heard of the arrival of the artillery at that town, they equipped a force composed of active and battle-loving soldiers, such as L‘al Khan Badakhshi, M. Quli Uzbeg, and Samanji Khan and sent them forward to make an attack. When this force wrote reporting the strength of the enemy, ‘Ali Quli Khan Shaibani joined the division, and the masterful ghazis, who were backed by the Shahinshah’s Fortune, added feline skill to the deeds of tigers. It may be conjectured what deeds were done by tigers when thus supported! In fine, the artillery was captured, and the advanced guard of the enemy fled without fighting. When the moribund Hemu heard of this, he arrayed his army in three divisions. The right wing was commanded by Shadi Khan Kakar, the left wing by Hemu’s sister’s son Ramya, who was distinguished for bravery, and he himself marched forward with consummate pride and great celerity. He took with him the mountain-like and dragon-mouthed elephants, which had been collected by so many Indian rulers, and which by Heaven’s decree and for a warning to the superficial and the short-sighted had been brought together for this alien in form and substance. Among them were 500 palmary (sira) elephants, each of them a paragon for swiftness and dexterity.
328.1.3
In might and courage they were exemplars, and the running of those active athletes could not be called running, for though the race-horses of ‘Iraq (Arabia) be swift, they could not outstrip those elephants. In truth each one of those famous elephants was capable of disordering a large force. They were especially calculated to confuse the onset of cavalry, as the horses had never seen such terrific forms. How can the attributes of those rushing mountains be strung on the slender thread of words. They ruined lofty buildings by shaking them, and sportively uprooted strong trees. In the hour of battle and contest they lifted up man and horse and cast them into the air. Verse. They advance at a gentle pace, but when they encounter, The strong are as powdered antimony under their feet. How shall the multitude of his army be described? The brief account is that he marched in excellent order with 30,000 practised horsemen composed of Rajputs and Afghans who, on many occasions, had by their exploits increased his pride and arrogance. Musketeers and cross-bowmen were placed on the mountain-backs of those enormous elephants, which were furnished with suits of mail (kajim) and defensive armour, and made ready for war. All the elephants had these war-panoplies, and had their trunks armed with spears and knives, and were intrusted to men of war and to courageous drivers. Every one had his place assigned to him.
328.1.4
The elephant Ghalib Jang, which was one of the first-rate elephants, was assigned to Hasan Khan Faujdar; the elephant Gaj Bhanwar (?), which was one in a thousand, was assigned to Maikal Khan; the elephant Jor Banyan, which was a powerful one, was given to Ikhtiyar Khan; the elephant Fauj Madar was assigned to Sangram Khan; and elephant Kali Beg, which had in many battles been ridden by Hemu himself, was on that day entrusted to a driver of the name of Capan. He conciliated these leaders, who were lions of the jungle of war, and were the confidants of Sher Khan and Selim Khan, and other haughty ones, and made them zealous for battle. But warlike preparations are of use against the superficial, and those who are influenced by material causes. Of what avail are they against a worshipper of God, and an annihilator of ordinary causes, who has been brought for the arrangement and completion of the spiritual and temporal world? All these materials and apparatus became additions to the household of that beautifier of the world of sovereignty. The strange event that immediately followed was a proof of this. The account of this wonderful fortune is as follows:— On Dibadin, the 23rd Aban, Divine month, corresponding to Thursday, 2 Muharram 964 (5 November, 1556), when the advanced guard of the victorious army was encamped on the borders of Panipat, scouts came and brought the information that the enemy had arrived, and reported his strength and equipment;
328.1.5
and it was made certain that the ill-fated scoundrel was boldly approaching. And before the above-mentioned town was reached, it was currently rumoured that Hemu had sent a large force in advance under the command of Shadi Khan Kakar. The imperial officers did not make much account of this, and having bound their hearts to the daily increasing fortune, proceeded to face him. When it grew certain that Hemū was coming with all that preparation, inasmuch as they had not looked to their real support (i.e., Akbar), perturbation found its way into the hearts of imperial servants, through the instrumentality of empty-headed babblers, from whom no army is ever free, or rather there are armies of such. The brave men of the army of fortune reported the facts to the victory-protecting court, and made themselves ready for sacrificing their lives. There were 10,000 soldiers in this force, but perhaps only 5,000 were men of battle. When the conquering heroes, and the loyal brave knew that the enemy was at hand they, out of wisdom and a large capacity, which on such occasions are greater incitements to victory than thousands of experienced soldiers, did not regard the apparent numerical superiority of the enemy, and their abundant equipment, for it is the way of the happy-fortuned and auspicious not to put off till the morrow the work of the day. Without a semblance of hesitation or delay they drew up their forces and sought for an opportunity to engage.
328.1.6
Sikandar Khan and a number of veterans were on the right. ‘Abdullah Khan and another body of devoted men were on the left. The centre received support from the valour of ‘Ali Quli Khan Shaibānī. Husain Quli Khan, Shah Quli Mahram, and a number of efficient young men formed the vanguard. Now that the narrative has come so far it is proper to pause and to expatiate somewhat, so that there may be amenity of discourse. O thou who seekest for admonitory words and who watchest the thread of exposition give ear for a time to me! From the time when H.M. the Shāhinshāh by dint of his world-conquering mind had sent on noted officers in advance, he did not for an instant disregard the arrangement of the main army, and marched forward, stage by stage, to victory. On this most excellent of days, which was the new year’s day of victory and rejoicing, he marched from Karnāl, which is ten kos from Panipat, and halted at the distance of five kos from the latter town. There was no intelligence in the camp that the enemy had approached the vanguard, and the soldiers had not yet rubbed off the dust of the march or taken breath, when news of the enemy’s having reached the vanguard, together with other disquieting information was received. It appeared that many had given way, but that fighting was still going on briskly. The order for battle was immediately given to the army, and preparations were made for the march.
328.1.7
Commands were issued that the heroes should put their armour on their breasts, and trust in God in their hearts, and follow the victorious stirrup. In a short time they were equipped in a manner worthy of praise from masters of fortune, and began searching for a fight. H.M. with a kingly and tranquil countenance placed the helmet of Divine fortune on his head, and the cuirass of God’s protection on his breast, and the foot of dominion in the stirrup of intent. Bairām Khan Khān-Khānān moved in front of the ranks, and round the divisions, and took measures for preserving the rules of war, and the protection of points. On behalf of H.M. the Shāhinshāh he distributed promises of favour and anger, and set in order the banquet of battle.