The Book of Akbar 341.1

341.1

When the world-subduing mind was at ease with regard to those regions, the sublime army proceeded towards Delhi via Samana. Stage after stage was marked by the distribution of justice and the bestowal of joy, and on 5 Ardibihisht, Divine month, equal to 25 Jamada-al-akhiri, the world-adorning standards cast light and shade on the plains of the capital. The grandees of the city hastened to go forth to welcome them and made the dust of the world-traversing army the ornament of the forehead of their own good fortune. The lights of equity and justice, and the radiances of the Shahinshah’s kindness and favour were shed on high and low. By the aid of the Director of Fortune, affairs military and civil were put anew into proper order. At this time the Khan-Khanan and all the officers and pillars of the empire held a great assemblage in the Shahinshah’s Diwankhana twice a week; whatever was fixed upon there with regard to political and financial matters was humbly represented to the Shahinshah, and whatever his world-obeyed command directed, received the royal signature. Among the wonderful things which the juggling heavens brought forth from behind the screen of extraordinary events there was the story of the loves of ‘Ali Quli Khan Zaman and a camel-driver’s son. In consequence of this his intrinsic baseness was revealed, and he became an object of scorn to mankind. The brief account of this is as follows: In the reign of H.M.