The Book of Akbar 394.2

394.2

If a ray from the sun of the Shah were to fall upon him and he were raised from the dust and so freed from the tribulations of the age, perchance his services would be approved of by the holy glance which is an elixir of auspiciousness. The brief details of the oppression that he had suffered are that when Mewat was made Muhammad Sharifu-d-din Husain’s fief, he wanted to take possession of the town of Amber which is in Marwar and was the seat of Rajah Bihari Mal’s ancestors. At this time Saja the son of Puran Mal, the Rajah’s elder brother, out of wickedness and because he wanted the chiefship for himself came and paid his respects to the Mirza and raised troubles. The Mirza led an army against Rajah Bihari Mal and as the times were unfavourable and the Rajah had not a large force he came to terms. A fixed contribution was laid upon him, and his son Jagannath, Raj Singh, the son of Askaran, and Kangar the son of Jagmal, who were the Rajah’s brothers’ sons, were taken as hostages, who in Hindi are called ol. The Mirza then went off to Ajmir and Nagor, and this year it was his fixed intention to collect troops and to extirpate the family. When the tale of the loyalty of this old family had been communicated to His Majesty he graciously gave permission for the introduction of the Rajah. When the cavalcade reached Deosa most of the inhabitants fled from fear. His Majesty said, “We have no other intention than to do good to all mankind.