The Book of Akbar 75: Burhanu-l Mulk comes to Court. (See Vol. V. p. 429.)

75

[Text, vol. iii. p. 401.] Burhanu-l Mulk was the younger brother of Murtaza Nizamu-l Mulk. When Husain Nizamu-l Mulk died, the Nizamu-l Mulki kingdom descended to his eldest son, but in reality the government fell into the hands of the young prince’s mother. He, like his father before him, preferred Burhan to all his friends. In course of time, designing persons stirred up strife between him and his relations, so that he seized and sent to a fortress both his mother and his brother. His ignorance and vicious propensities kept him aloof from the loyal and good, and threw him into the company of evil persons, whose bad advice quite perverted his mind. He raised a low fellow, a cock-fighter named Husain, to be his companion, and foolishly gave him the title of Asaf Khan. * * This low-born fellow stirred up a war against Bidar, and a fierce struggle went on in Kandahar. The news of these foolish proceedings soon spread abroad, and Burhan, having escaped from prison by the aid of his keeper, began to raise disturbances; but his mind was in fetters, and his fortune asleep. He cast his eyes upon the wealth of others, and began to oppress them. When Nizamu-l Mulk was informed of this outbreak, he hastened back, and reached Ahmadnagar on the day he desired. * * Numbers of men deserted Burhan, and he was obliged to fly without fighting. He then went to ’Adil Khan at Bijanagar (sic). Not being able to effect anything there, he went in the disguise of a jogi to Ahmadnagar. There he lived in secret, and endeavoured to raise a party among the evil-disposed. Being discovered, he hastened to the governor of Baglana, and not being able to effect anything there, he went to Kutbu-d din Khan, at Bidar. From thence he proceeded to the Imperial Court, where he met with a gracious reception. [Account of the impostor who had preceded him. — See Vol. V. p. 429.]