[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) › 387 # The Book of Akbar 387: ACCOUNT OF THE STRANGE STORY AND OF THE WONDERFUL ADVENTURE WHICH HAPPENED TO HIS MAJESTY THE SHAHINSHAH. The Akbarnama (H. Beveridge), vols. I–II 387 - **Language:** English ### [387](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.387) The great Vicariate demands that just rulers should without ostentation or personal motives enter into affairs to the full extent of human power and should not delegate them to another. For scrutinising intellect only employs lieutenants and agents in those affairs of human concernment to which it cannot personally attend. Most secular rulers confine their attention to the choice of a lieutenant and then delegate the care of mortals to others and give themselves up to pleasure. His Majesty the Shahinshah from his abundant wisdom, and universal benevolence derives his satisfaction—to an extent which the human capacity cannot comprehend—from the soothing of mankind and personally takes part in most matters of business. And as one of the chief duties of sovereignty is to know the condition of the people, and as of all worldly pursuits this is the one in which corruption is most patent, for it is a pursuit which has chiefly to deal with the mean, the low and the base who are specially addicted to mischief, covetousness and lying—for how are truth, honesty and disinterestedness to be expected in low-natured subjects of inquiry when such qualities are at the present day rare in the great?—His Majesty mostly uses in this work his own sublime genius, and gives to it his special attention. And although the kingly office requires that the holy personality of sovereigns should be guarded in a thousand iron fortresses, yet the Khedive of our age relies on the Divine protection; and after asking support from godly ascetics he many times goes out in a mode which no one knows and a dress which no one recognizes and makes perambulations. He gets information about hidden matters and so arranges for the administration of human affairs. By the influence of desert-traversing knowers of God who are a note of the Divine protection, he is protected from the dangers of such journeys, as he is guarded from other perils. - [Previous: 386](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.386) - [Next: 388](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.388) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.387](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.akbar.akbarnama~en-beveridge.387) · Pramāṇa