[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Mughals (1526–1857)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal) › [Bābur (1526–1530)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur) › [Bāburnāma](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama) › [The Babur-nama in English (A. S. Beveridge)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-beveridge) › 902 # The Memoirs of Bābur 902 The Bābur-nāma in English (A. S. Beveridge) 902 - **Language:** English ### [902.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-beveridge.902.1) 902 AH.—SEP. 9TH. 1496 TO AUG. 30TH. 1497 AD.\[309\] (\_a. Bābur's second attempt on Samarkand.\_) This winter, Bāī-sunghar Mīrzā's affairs were altogether in a good way. When \`Abdu'l-karīm \_Ushrit\_ came on Sl. \`Alī Mīrzā's part to near Kūfīn, Mahdī Sl. led out a body of Bāī-sunghar Mīrzā's troops against him. The two commanders meeting exactly face to face, Mahdī Sl. pricked \`Abdu'l-karīm's horse with his Chirkas\[310\] sword so that it fell, and as \`Abdu'l-karīm was getting to his feet, struck off his hand at the wrist. Having taken him, they gave his men a good beating. These (Aūzbeg) sulṯāns, seeing the affairs of Samarkand and the Gates of the (Tīmūrid) Mīrzās tottering to their fall, went off in good time (\_āīrtā\_) into the open country (?)\[311\] for Shaibānī. Pleased\[312\] with their small success (over \`Abdu'l-karīm), the Samarkandīs drew an army out against Sl. \`Alī Mīrzā; Bāī-sunghar Mīrzā went to Sar-i-pul (Bridge-head), Sl. \`Alī Mīrzā to Khwāja Kārzūn. Meantime, Khwāja Abū'l-makāram, at the instigation of Khwāja Munīr of Aūsh, rode light against \[Sidenote: Fol. 39.\] Bukhārā with Wais \_Lāgharī\_ and Muḥammad Bāqir of the Andijān begs, and Qāsim \_Dūldāī\_ and some of the Mīrzā's household. As the Bukhāriots took precautions when the invaders got near the town, they could make no progress. They therefore retired. ### [902.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-beveridge.902.2) At the time when (last year) Sl. \`Alī Mīrzā and I had our interview, it had been settled\[313\] that this summer he should come from Bukhārā and I from Andijān to beleaguer Samarkand. To keep this tryst, I rode out in Ramẓān (May) from Andijān. Hearing when close to Yār Yīlāq, that the (two) Mīrzās were lying front to front, we sent Tūlūn Khwāja \_Mūghūl\_\[314\] ahead, with 2 or 300 scouting braves (\_qāzāq yīkītlār\_). Their approach giving Bāī-sunghar Mīrzā news of our advance, he at once broke up and retired in confusion. That same night our detachment overtook his rear, shot a mass (\_qālīn\_) of his men and brought in masses of spoil. Two days later we reached Shīrāz. It belonged to Qāsim Beg \_Dūldāī\_; his \_dārogha\_ (Sub-governor) could not hold it and surrendered.\[315\] It was given into Ibrāhīm \_Sārū's\_ charge. After making there, next day, the Prayer of the Breaking of the Fast (\_\`Īdu'l-fiṯr\_), we moved for Samarkand and dismounted in the reserve (\_qūrūgh\_) of Āb-i-yār (Water of Might). That day waited on me with 3 or 400 men, Qāsim \_Dūldāī\_, \[Sidenote: Fol. 39b.\] Wais \_Lāgharī\_, Muḥammad Sīghal's grandson, Ḥasan,\[316\] and Sl. Muḥammad Wais. What they said was this: 'Bāī-sunghar Mīrzā came out and has gone back; we have left him therefore and are here for the \_pādshāh's\_ service,' but it was known later that they must have left the Mīrzā at his request to defend Shīrāz, and that the Shīrāz affair having become what it was, they had nothing for it but to come to us. ### [902.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-beveridge.902.3) When we dismounted at Qarā-būlāq, they brought in several Mughūls arrested because of senseless conduct to humble village elders coming in to us.\[317\] Qāsim Beg \_Qūchīn\_ for discipline's sake (\_siyāsat\_) had two or three of them cut to pieces. It was on this account he left me and went to Ḥiṣār four or five years later, in the guerilla times, (907 AH.) when I was going from the Macha country to The Khān.\[318\] Marching from Qarā-būlāq, we crossed the river (\_i.e.\_ the Zar-afshān) and dismounted near Yām.\[319\] On that same day, our men got to grips with Bāī-sunghar Mīrzā's at the head of the Avenue. Sl. Aḥmad \_Taṃbal\_ was struck in the neck by a spear but not unhorsed. Khwājakī Mullā-i-ṣadr, Khwāja-i-kalān's eldest brother, was pierced in the nape of the neck\[320\] by an arrow and went straightway to God's mercy. An excellent soldier, my father before me had favoured him, making him Keeper of the Seal; he was a student of theology, had great \[Sidenote: Fol. 40.\] acquaintance with words and a good style; moreover he undertook hawking and rain-making with the jade-stone. ### [902.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-beveridge.902.4) While we were at Yām, people, dealers and other, came out in crowds so that the camp became a bazar for buying and selling. One day, at the Other Prayer, suddenly, a general hubbub arose and all those Musalmān (traders) were plundered. Such however was the discipline of our army that an order to restore everything having been given, the first watch (\_pahār\_) of the next day had not passed before nothing, not a tag of cotton, not a broken needle's point, remained in the possession of any man of the force, all was back with its owners. Marching from Yām, it was dismounted in Khān Yūrtī (The Khān's Camping Ground),\[321\] some 6 m. (3 \_kuroh\_) east of Samarkand. We lay there for 40 or 50 days. During the time, men from their side and from ours chopped at one another (\_chāpqū-lāshtīlār\_) several times in the Avenue. One day when Ibrāhīm \_Begchīk\_ was chopping away there, he was cut on the face; thereafter people called him \_Chāpūk\_ (\_Balafré\_). Another time, this also in the Avenue, at the Maghāk (Fosse) Bridge\[322\] Abū'l-qāsim (\_Kohbur Chaghatāī\_) got in with his mace. Once, again \[Sidenote: Fol. 40b.\] in the Avenue, near the Mill-sluice, when Mīr Shāh \_Qūchīn\_ also got in with his mace, they cut his neck almost half-through; most fortunately the great artery was not severed. ### [902.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-beveridge.902.5) While we were in Khān Yūrtī, some in the fort sent the deceiving message,\[323\] 'Come you to-night to the Lovers' Cave side and we will give you the fort.' Under this idea, we went that night to the Maghāk Bridge and from there sent a party of good horse and foot to the rendezvous. Four or five of the household foot-soldiers had gone forward when the matter got wind. They were very active men; one, known as Ḥājī, had served me from my childhood; another people called Maḥmūd \_Kūndūr-sangak\_.\[324\] They were all killed. While we lay in Khān Yūrtī, so many Samarkandīs came out that the camp became a town where everything looked for in a town was to be had. Meantime all the forts, Samarkand excepted, and the Highlands and the Lowlands were coming in to us. As in Aūrgūt, however, a fort on the skirt of the Shavdār (var. Shādwār) range, a party of men held fast\[325\], of necessity we moved out from Khān Yūrtī against them. They could not maintain themselves, and surrendered, making \[Sidenote: Fol. 41.\] Khwāja-i-qāẓī their mediator. Having pardoned their offences against ourselves, we went back to beleaguer Samarkand. (\_b. Affairs of Sl. Ḥusain Mīrzā and his son, Badī\`u'z-zamān Mīrzā.\_)\[326\] ### [902.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-beveridge.902.6) This year the mutual recriminations of Sl. Ḥusain Mīrzā and Badī\`u'z-zamān Mīrzā led on to fighting; here are the particulars:—Last year, as has been mentioned, Badī\`u'z-zamān Mīrzā and Muz̤affar Ḥusain Mīrzā had been made to kneel for Balkh and Astarābād. From that time till this, many envoys had come and gone, at last even \`Alī-sher Beg had gone but urge it as all did, Badī\`u'z-zamān Mīrzā would not consent to give up Astarābād. 'The Mīrzā,' he said, 'assigned\[327\] it to my son, Muḥammad Mū\`min Mīrzā at the time of his circumcision.' A conversation had one day between him and \`Alī-sher Beg testifies to his acuteness and to the sensibility of \`Alī-sher Beg's feelings. After saying many things of a private nature in the Mīrzā's ear, \`Alī-sher Beg added, 'Forget these matters.'\[328\] 'What matters?' rejoined the Mīrzā instantly. \`Alī-sher Beg was much affected and cried a good deal. At length the jarring words of this fatherly and filial discussion went so far that \_his\_ father against his father, and \_his\_ son against his son drew armies out for Balkh and Astarābād.\[329\] Up (from Harāt) to the Pul-i-chirāgh meadow, below Garzawān,\[330\] went Sl. Ḥusain Mīrzā; down (from Balkh) came \[Sidenote: Fol. 41b.\] Badī\`u'z-zamān Mīrzā. On the first day of Ramẓān (May 2nd.) Abū'l-muḥsin Mīrzā advanced, leading some of his father's light troops. There was nothing to call a battle; Badī\`u'z-zamān Mīrzā was routed and of his braves masses were made prisoner. Sl. ### [902.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-beveridge.902.7) Ḥusain Mīrzā ordered that all prisoners should be beheaded; this not here only but wherever he defeated a rebel son, he ordered the heads of all prisoners to be struck off. And why not? Right was with him. The (rebel) Mīrzās were so given over to vice and social pleasure that even when a general so skilful and experienced as their father was within half-a-day's journey of them, and when before the blessed month of Ramẓān, one night only remained, they busied themselves with wine and pleasure, without fear of their father, without dread of God. Certain it is that those so lost (\_yūtkān\_) will perish and that any hand can deal a blow at those thus going to perdition (\_aūtkān\_). During the several years of Badī\`u'z-zamān Mīrzā's rule in Astarābād, his coterie and his following, his bare (\_yālāng\_) braves even, were in full splendour\[4\] and adornment. He had many gold and silver drinking cups \[Sidenote: Fol. 42.\] and utensils, much silken plenishing and countless tīpūchāq horses. He now lost everything. He hurled himself in his flight down a mountain track, leading to a precipitous fall. He himself got down the fall, with great difficulty, but many of his men perished there.\[331\] ### [902.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-beveridge.902.8) After defeating Badī\`u'z-zamān Mīrzā, Sl. Ḥusain Mīrzā moved on to Balkh. It was in charge of Shaikh \`Alī T̤aghāī; he, not able to defend it, surrendered and made his submission. The Mīrzā gave Balkh to Ibrāhīm Ḥusain Mīrzā, left Muḥammad Walī Beg and Shāh Ḥusain, the page, with him and went back to Khurāsān. Defeated and destitute, with his braves bare and his bare foot-soldiers\[332\], Badī\`u'z-zamān Mīrzā drew off to Khusrau Shāh in Qūndūz. Khusrau Shāh, for his part, did him good service, such service indeed, such kindness with horses and camels, tents and pavilions and warlike equipment of all sorts, both for himself and those with him, that eye-witnesses said between this and his former equipment the only difference might be in the gold and silver vessels. (\_c. Dissension between Sl. Mas\`ūd Mīrzā and Khusrau Shāh.\_) ### [902.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-beveridge.902.9) Ill-feeling and squabbles had arisen between Sl. Mas\`ūd Mīrzā and Khusrau Shāh because of the injustices of the one and the self-magnifyings of the other. Now therefore Khusrau Shāh joined his brothers, Walī and Bāqī to Badī\`u'z-zamān Mīrzā and sent the three against Ḥiṣār. They could not even \[Sidenote: Fol. 42b.\] get near the fort, in the outskirts swords were crossed once or twice; one day at the Bird-house\[333\] on the north of Ḥiṣār, Muḥibb-\`alī, the armourer (\_qūrchī\_), outstripped his people and struck in well; he fell from his horse but at the moment of his capture, his men attacked and freed him. A few days later a somewhat compulsory peace was made and Khusrau Shāh's army retired. Shortly after this, Badī\`u'z-zamān Mīrzā drew off by the mountain-road to Ẕū'n-nūn \_Arghūn\_ and his son, Shujā\` \_Arghūn\_ in Qandahār and Zamīn-dāwar. Stingy and miserly as Ẕū'n-nūn was, he served the Mīrzā well, in one single present offering 40,000 sheep. Amongst curious happenings of the time one was this: Wednesday was the day Sl. Ḥusain Mīrzā beat Badī\`u'z-zamān Mīrzā; Wednesday was the day Muz̤affar Ḥusain Mīrzā beat Muḥammad Mū\`min Mīrzā; Wednesday, more curious still, was the name of the man who unhorsed and took prisoner, Muḥammad Mū\`min Mīrzā.\[334\] --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-beveridge.902](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-beveridge.902) · Pramāṇa