The Book of Akbar 376.3
The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II 376.3
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376.3.1
Among the events of this time was the marriage of M. Sharafud-din Husain. The auspicious-minded Shahinshah, who from outward signs knows secrets constantly distinguishes by royal favours and raised to lofty rank a number of persons who come before him, and are noted for good services and loyalty, and in whom high lineage adds to their intrinsic merits. By causing them to revolve continually in his presence he observes and studies their character. For the well-founded idea of the Shahinshah is, “Perchance a knave has put on the garments of the honest and has come into the lists of the elect, and there may occur a fault and a fissure in the pillars of the sovereignty through his wickedness.” It was on the same principle that the sages of old, when they would strip the veil of secrecy from hearts, poured reason-robbing wine into their mouths and made them intoxicated, so that their weak heads gave out from drunkenness whatever secret there was in their minds. Verse. Men try man by the test of wine. And when the intention is right, to give wine of this kind as approved by the dicta of the wise. To overthrow such knavish intelligence and to test it is befitting to world-adorning religion.
376.3.2
In the same manner the principle of this world-adorning Shahinshah is that when he desire to know the calibre of anyone’s talents and disposition he primes him with the man-overthrowing wine of the world (i.e., prosperity) and makes him mad with the world’s inebriety, and then reads with the eyes of insight the nature of his character. Short-sighted men, whose eyes do not fall on the object and are whirled round in the trough of error shoot out the tongue of reproach saying, "Why was such confidence reposed without inquiry?" While they who know the degrees of perfection recognise in this practice the use of the mirror of characters and eulogise such testing. An instance of this testing is M. Sharafu-d-din Husain, who was of very exalted lineage, and whom H.M. looked upon with the eye of promoting, and to whom he gave lofty rank in order that he might be a prop of the Sultanate. As the high connections and the reputation of the Mirza were visible to all the world, some of the imperial servants, who only looked to external rank, judged him to be sound inwardly as well as externally, and gave him in marriage the cupola of chastity, the holy fruit of the Sultanate, Bakhshi Banu Begam, who was H.M. the Shahinshah's pure sister. By this alliance the position of the Mirza was enormously exalted. Soon afterwards he obtained leave to go to Sarkar Nagor which was his fief. One of the occurrences of this year was the sending M. Qara Bahadir Khan, the brother of M.
376.3.3
Haidar Girgan, to conquer Kashmir. As it is a proper part of the rules of the administration of justice and of world-sway that whenever a ruler engages in his own pleasures, and spends his time in gratifying his lusts, and does not attend to the cherishing of his subjects and to sympathising with the oppressed, and to overthrowing the oppressors, the Lord of the Age, to whom Almighty God has given power and made him the governor of the terrene and terrestrials, should for the sake of thanksgiving to God, strive to uproot that tyrant, and to make over the inhabitants of his country to the prudent and just-minded, and should consider that as the preamble of elect devotion; so, acting upon this principle, an order was issued this year that a force be put under the command of M. Qara Bahadir, a relative of M. Haidar, and one who was acquainted with the country, and that he be sent to conquer Kashmir. inasmuch as the disturbances by intriguing Kashmiris, and the injustice of Ghazi Khan, the ruler of Kashmir, had been brought to the royal ears. A large body of men were nominated to assist Qara Bahadir. At this time Ghazi Khan, the son of Kaci Cak, was the ruler of Kashmir, for the government thereof had come to him after his father. But the truth is that he was the son of Husain Cak the brother of Kaci Cak. When the measure of Husain Cak’s days was filled, Kaci Cak, either swayed by lust, or influenced by political considerations, took to himself his pregnant wife.
376.3.4
Two or three months after the marriage Ghazi Khan was born. As Qara Bahadir was not skilful nor laborious he proceeded on his service after long delay, and arrived at Rajauri in the height of the hot season. Nasrat Khan, Fatah Cak, nephew of Daulat Cak, Lohar, Ankari, Naji Rina, the brother of Idi Rina, Yusuf Cak, son of Ramaki Cak, and Khwaja Haji came and joined him. As they saw that the army was not well constituted, Nasrat Khan, Fatah Cak, Lohar and Ankari fled to Kashmir. The army remained for three months in Lali Khokar, near Bimbhar, waiting for the coming of the auxiliaries. As the leaders of the force were old servants, they took the longer time in arriving. It is not by such slowness and heaviness that the entrance into Kashmir is to be effected, for the roads of that country are of such a nature that if the ruler get news a few days before of the approach of strangers and seize the passes, it would be difficult, or rather impossible, for an army adorned with thousands of Rustams to get possession of the country. Ghazi Khan, who heard of the coming of the army, and some months had passed meanwhile, so strongly fortified the roads and passes that there could be no idea of getting through them. He also sent his infantry down from the hills. M. Qara Bahadir, after fighting for some days near Rajauri, was defeated and turned back. It was not solely the strength of the Kashmiris that effected this.
376.3.5
The season of ague, the beginning of the rains and the non-arrival of the auxiliary force were the principal causes of the defeat. A wonderful fight occurred on this occasion. On one side were musketeers, and on the other archers. Though the royal soldiers were few in number, yet by heavenly aid they did great things and gave proof of their courage. Kucak Bahādur, a Rustam-hearted man, specially distinguished himself. At last, as the thing was an impossibility and as the superintendents of fortune had reserved the conquest of this delightful country for another time when the world-cherishing Shāhinshāh should throw off the veil over his world-adorning beauty and undertake the management of affairs without the partnership of the destructive and contumacious, they did not on this occasion gather together the materials of victory. Qārā Bahādur made such arrangements as he could and came to the fort of Daira near Rājaurī. Kūcak Bahādur was wounded with an arrow. He became a prisoner and was brought before Ghāzī Khān. As the Kashmiris had seen his valour, Ghāzī Khān received him with kindness and made him over to the physicians. But as remedies were of no avail he took the path of annihilation. Next day Qārā Bahādur arrived at Naushahra.
376.3.6
At this time of increasing dominion H.M. the Shāhinshāh in accordance with the suitability of the time was engaged in Agra, the capital, in rendering thanks for the glorious favours of God and under the disguise of inattention to the affairs of the sovereignty, for every day the notes of fortune and felicity were coming into evidence. In every direction countries were being conquered, and the news of victories was arriving. From all quarters the lords of sincerity were congregating in crowds. Dominion was increasing, and fortune was adorning. Understanding was becoming far-sighted, and men were becoming devoted. What place in that holy festival could be held by such news as that of what had happened to Qārā Bahādur? And what dust of loss could it raise in that sublime sanctuary? Among the occurrences was the coming of the news that Bairām Khān had passed away. As the holy personality is a fountain of generosity and humanity he expressed regret at this event in spite of the things that had taken place, and of which a few out of many have been related. I do not know if this event was the retribution of past deeds, or if his mind was still polluted by evil thoughts, or if his prayer had been answered, or whether the favour of God released that good man from the heavy burden of shame. In truth Bairām Khan was in reality a good man, and of excellent qualities.
376.3.7
On account of bad company, which is the worst evil for mortals, his excellencies were first perceived by him, and his infatuation was increased by excessive flattery. For, whenever one fixes his eye on his own goodnesses and abilities there becomes a brisk market of flatterers in the antechamber of his heart. And he takes every flattery that reaches him to be true, and becomes a self-worshipper, and a self-adorner. Consequently, when the time came, the true beauty of the Lord of the Age remained hidden from Bairām Khan, because it was screened by the tender age and the absence of practice in political matters. While searching for the defects of others he did not consider his own. But the house of flatterers did not do him so much harm as did his honest but inexperienced and short-sighted friends. At length, as he in reality belonged to the band of the auspicious of mind and awakened of fortune, he by good guidance did not end in rebellion and contumacy, and lived to repent. By the blessing of service and the grace of pardon he attained to happiness, and the king of the world became pleased with him and was gracious. He set off on a pilgrimage to the glorious places, with honour, accompanied by his family, and provided with goods. When he arrived at the city of Pattan, which is the nearest city of Gujrat, and used formerly to be called Nahrwala, he stayed for some days in that delightful neighbourhood in order to take repose.
376.3.8
At that time the governor of the city was Musa Khan Fuladi, and he was firmly established there. A number of Afghans had assembled round him, and were disturbers of the country. Among them was Mubarak Khan Lohani, whose father had been killed in the battle of Maciwara when Bairam Khan was in command. A desire for revenge took possession of that mad Afghan, and he resolved to kill Bairam Khan. Moreover a Kashmiri wife of Selim Khan, the son of Sher Khan, and her daughter by him, were in the caravan, and were intending to go to the Hijaz along with Bairam Khan. It had also been arranged that Bairam Khan should marry his son to the daughter; this too was displeasing to the Afghans.