The Book of Akbar 328.1.1

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.