The Book of Akbar 394.1

394.1

As the Shahinshah’s holy soul searches after knowers of the Truth and is inquisitive about reputations founded on reality, he determined on the very hunting-ground to pursue spiritual game, and though his followers urged that he should not go to remote places, and spoke of the dangers of them and the numbers of refractory persons there, he did not give heed to them, for his mind was set upon going, and only became more determined to make the expedition. On the day of Shahriyār 4 Bahman, Divine month, corresponding to Wednesday 8th Jamāda-al-awwal (14th January, 1562), he set off to Ajmīr with a few attendants who belonged to the hunting-party. An order was also issued that Māham Anaga should convey the seraglio to Ajmīr by way of Mewāt, and in accordance with it she hastened thither. When His Majesty reached the village of Kalāvalī (?) Caghatai Khān, who as an intimate courtier had means of speaking to him, represented the facts of the loyalty of Rajah Bihārī Mal who was head of the Kacwāha clan which is a distinguished tribe of Rajputs. The Rajah, he said, was eminent for wisdom and valour and had always been loyal to the sublime family and had done excellent service. He had in Delhi kissed the threshold and had conducted himself as one of those who were firmly bound to the sublime saddle-straps. For a long time he had been apprehensive on account of his bad treatment by Sharīfu-d-dīn Husain Mīrzā and had taken refuge in the folds of the hills.