[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) › 355 # The Book of Akbar 355: CHAPTER XXIII. The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II 355 - **Language:** English ### CHAPTER XXIII. ### [355.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.355.1) ideas into his head, and his crude thoughts ripened. When the enlightened mind of H.M. the Shahinshah was aware of the frauds of this ungrateful crew, he, before they disclosed their evil intentions, laid his closely-hidden secret before the sincere, and united, such as Maham Anaga, who was a marvel for sense, resource and loyalty, Adham Khan, M. Sharafu-d-din Husain, and a number of other courtiers, and intimated that he would throw off some of the veils of his world-adorning beauty and would assume sovereignty, and would inflict suitable punishment on Bairām Khan and his assemblage of flatterers, so that they should awake from their sleep of neglect and long mourn over their misconduct. Good God! How could such thoughts enter a human head in the face of the supremacy of Bairam Khan, the largeness of his army and the tyranny of the lords of opposition? But as the world-adorning Deity was desirous that this chosen one should throw off one or two of the hundreds and thousands of the veils of his beauty, and should put another veil over his world-illuminating countenance, and that he should take his seat on the throne of command, it was inevitable that at such a time thoughts and inspirations such as these should find their way into his truth-worshipping mind. ### [355.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.355.2) On one occasion these considerations were adduced at Biana, whither he had gone for hunting, and the servants of fortune's threshold, partly on account of vexation at the life they led, for these servants of the king were on account of the tyranny of the Bairām Khan confederacy in indigent circumstances just as the king of the Age was, and partly from the glory of a little loyalty, and at this time of the typhoon and simūm of disloyalty, a little loyalty made a great show, engaged in proper schemes. Maham Anaga communicated this close secret to Shihābu-d-dīn Ahmad Khan, who was governor of Delhi, and a favourite on account of his judgment, loyalty and truthfulness. On 8 Farwardīn, Divine month, corresponding to Monday 20th Jumāda-al-ākhirī 967 (19th March, 1560) he left Agra with an intention which involved in it the administration of the world, and was a cause of peace and tranquillity. Ostensibly he went to hunt at Kōl (Alighar) and its vicinity, and so crossed the Jumna. As he had no residence he spent that night in the house of Hakīm Zanbīl. As Bairam Khan always showed adherence and attention to Abul-Qāsim the son of M. ### [355.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.355.3) Kāmrān, and as the evil thoughts of the faction always put him forward, he, in accordance with the dictates of reason, sent for him from that side of the Jumna and took him with him on this hunting-party in which the game of his design fell into his hands, so that he might not be the staff of the inwardly blind ones of the stage of enmity and rebellion, or a voucher for the wayfarers in the desert of sedition. Certainly the idea was a good one, and it was carried out in accordance with H.M.’s inspiration. Next morning he arrived, under the guidance of fortune, at the town of Jalesar, and from there he went to Sikandra. Muhammad Bāqī Baqlānī father-in-law of Adham Khān was there. Māham Anaga had sent for him and confided the secret to him. That low-minded, inauspicious one sought exclusion from the bliss of meeting (Akbar), and not being content with this he sent news of the scheme to Bairām Khān; but as the time of the expiry of Bairām Khān’s sway was near at hand, and the rulers of the Shāhinshāh’s fortune had planned this divine contrivance, Bairām Khān regarded the report as old, idle tales and paid no heed to it. The sublime standards proceeded from there, hunting as they went, towards Kūl, and as His Highness Mariam Makānī was in Delhi and was in somewhat weak health, he made this his motive and went there. He came to the town of Khurjah and alighted at the Serai of Bahānkūl(?). ### [355.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.355.4) At this stage Shihābu-d-dīn Ahmad Khān and his brothers and other relatives met him and had the bliss of welcoming him. They were made the objects of royal favours. From there he proceeded to Delhi and in a fortunate hour on 16 Farwardīn, Divine month, corresponding to Tuesday, 28th Jumāda-al-ākhirī, 27th March 1560, that city received celestial glory by his advent. Mankind obtained their desires and raised shouts of joy to the skies. H.M. became by his God-given wisdom the guide of the sincere, and employed them in proper occupations. He issued orders to the special retainers of the threshold of fortune, and to the old members of the family, to the effect that as Bairam Khan owing to the pressure of worldly affairs had deviated from the straight path he had disregarded him and come to Delhi. Whoever was loyal to H.M., or was intelligent and wished for his own safety, and desired to attain his desires should, on receiving these commands, proceed to the Court—the protection of mankind—for everyone would be exalted to high office. This was the commencement of the emergence of his (our) dominion conjoined with eternity. Fortunate was he who should unite himself to this daily-increasing supremacy! Among these orders was one sent to Shamsu-d-din Muhammad Khān Atka, who was in Bhera, directing him on becoming acquainted with the farmān to come to Lahore and to make over that city to Mīr Muhammad Khān Kalān, and to come himself rapidly to Court. ### [355.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.355.5) He was also to bring Mahdī Qāsim Khān, for this was the way to fortune. Shamsu-d-dīn under the guidance of perfect fidelity acted according to the command and hastened to render service. Similarly orders were sent to Kābul to Mun‘im Khān. The imperial servants on every side donned the garb of pilgrimage towards this K‘aaba of fortune. ### [355.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.355.6) When Shamsu-d-dīn Muhammad Khān Atka entered upon service he was received with princely favours and the rank of his elevation exceeded the degrees of hope. In conformity with his loyalty he attained to a lofty dignity which he had not even imagined. The standard, drum and tūmān togh of Bairām Khān were presented to him, and he was entrusted with the government of the Panjāb. Right-minded novices and devoted seniors, and experienced men came trooping in from all parts to the sublime Court. Shihābu-d-dīn Ahmad Khān from motives of vigilance and precaution engaged in strengthening the fort of Delhi and in repairing the bastions and walls, and took charge of political and financial affairs. In a short time the report of the alienation of the sacred disposition from Bairam Khan was spread far and near. There was a rift in his sway and men began to separate from him. The first man to leave the Khan-Khanan and to proceed to the throne, and the forerunner on the path of rectitude, was Qiya Khan Gang. He was an old and able officer. After him men came, one by one, and two by two, to the sublime threshold. Maham Anaga was joined with Shihabu-d-din Ahmad Khan, and being entrusted with the vakalat represented matters to H.M. Everyone who brought sincerity to the threshold was exalted by fitting offices and titles and fiefs. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.355](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.355) · Pramāṇa