The Book of Akbar 33.4

33.4

The vigorous hand of the Emperor had dealt him such a blow that those who were not aware of the fact supposed it to have been given with a mace. Mun’im Khan Khan-khanan and Shahabu-d din Ahmad Khan, who were near at hand, recoiled before the Emperor’s anger, and took to flight. Yusuf Muhammad Khan, the eldest son of Atka Khan, when he was informed of the fate of his father, assembled the Atka khail in arms, and blocked the road against Adham Khan and Maham Anka. They were as yet unaware of the just retribution inflicted by His Majesty, who had paid no regard to his connection (nisbat) with Maham Anka. * * But one of their number went and saw the punishment the culprit had received at the hands of the Emperor, and their anger was then appeased. Maham Anka was at her own home, stretched upon the bed of sickness. She had heard of her son’s outrageous conduct, and that the Emperor had put him in confinement. Moved by her maternal affection, she arose and went to the Emperor, hoping to obtain the release of her son. When the Emperor saw her, he told her that Adham had killed his atka, and that he had inflicted the retaliatory punishment. Maham Anka did not understand from this that her son was dead, so she replied that His Majesty had done well. But the takhta-begi, one of the ladies of the Court, then told her the truth, that he had been killed, and that he bore upon his face the marks of a blow with a mace, — these marks being, in fact, those made by His Majesty’s fist.