The Book of Akbar 102: Defeat of the Dakhin Confederates.

102

[Text, vol. iii. p. 764.] The Ahmadnagar affair, and other unfortunate matters, had brought disgrace upon the armies of the Dakhin, and made their leaders desirous of retrieving their fortunes, by contending against the Imperial forces. Shah Murad was at the head of the royal army, and was desirous of giving battle, but the experienced amirs objected, and continued their opposition, until Mirza Shah Rukh was appointed commander-in-chief, and Khan-khanan and other distinguished officers were named for different duties. The military chest, the elephants, and the artillery, were carefully looked after, and everything properly arranged. Mirza Shah Rukh and Khan-khanan commanded the centre. * * The army marched from Shahpur, and took up a position twelve kos from Pathari.
The enemy also prepared for battle. The army of Nizamu-l Mulk was in the centre; the ’Adil Khanis were on the right, and the army of Kutbu-l Mulk on the left. On the 28th Bahman, after the first watch of the day, the river Gang (Godavari) was passed, and the battle began by an attack on the right wing of the enemy. But they held their ground firmly in a strong position, and kept up a heavy fire. Great bravery was exhibited on both sides, and a long and desperate struggle was maintained. The enemy was numerous, and the superiority of his fire checked the Imperial ranks and made them waver. Jagganath and several other Rajputs drew rein, and did not move, while the ’Adil Khani troops made an onslaught upon Raja ’Ali Khan of Khandesh. He made a stubborn resistance, and fell fighting bravely, with thirty-five distinguished officers and 500 devoted followers.
Mirza Shah Rukh and Khan-khanan had been successful in their part of the field, so also had Saiyid Kasim and other leaders. The enemy was under the impression that the ruler of Khandesh was in the centre, and thought that Mirza Shah Rukh and Khan-khanan were involved in his defeat. During the darkness of the night, the opposing forces remained separate from each other, each supposing that it had gained a victory. In the course of the night many of the scattered troops rejoined their standards. Under the impression that Raja ’Ali Khan, of Khandesh, had gone over to the enemy, the Imperial troops plundered his baggage. Dwarka Das of the advance, and Sa’id Jalal of the left, retired to Nilavvi. Ram Chandar, who had fought bravely, and had received twenty wounds with the forces under Raja ’Ali Khan, remained among the wounded during the night, and died a few days after.
When morning came, the Imperial forces, 7000 in number, found themselves in face of 25,000 of the enemy. They had all night suffered from thirst, and they now carried the river Sugam. The enemy was only half-hearted, and being dismayed by this demonstration took to flight, and made but little resistance. * * Worn out by the protracted conflict, the Imperial forces were unable to pursue. At the beginning of the campaign, the Imperial forces numbered only 15,000, while the enemy were 60,000 in number. Still they had gained this great victory, and had captured forty elephants and much artillery.