[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) › [Tuzak-i Babari (extracts, from Erskine's translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-elliot) › 2.4 # The Memoirs of Bābur 2.4 Túzak-i Bábarí (extracts, from Erskine's translation) 2.4 - **Language:** English ### [2.4.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-elliot.2.4.1) By the time of early morning prayers, when the light was such that you could distinguish one object from another, notice was brought from the advanced patrols, that the enemy were advancing, drawn up in order of battle. We too, immediately braced on our helmets and our armour, and mounted. The right division was led by Humayun, accompanied by \* \* \* ; the left division was commanded by Muhammad Sultan Mirza. \* \* \* The right of the centre was commanded by Chin Timur Sultan \* \* \*; the left of the centre by Khalifa. \* \* \* The advance was led by Khusru Gokultash. \* \* \* 'Abdu-l 'Aziz, master of horse, had the command of the reserve. On the flank of the right division I stationed Wali Kizil, \* \* \* with their Mughals, to act as a tulughmah (or flanking party). On the extremity of the left division were stationed Kara-Kuzi \* \* \* to form the tulughmah or flankers, with instructions, that as soon as the enemy approached sufficiently near, they should take a circuit and come round upon their rear. When the enemy first came in sight, they seemed to bend their force most against the right division. I therefore detached 'Abdu-l 'Aziz, who was stationed with the reserve, to reinforce the right. Sultan Ibrahim's army, from the time it first appeared in sight, never made a halt, but advanced right upon us at a quick pace. ### [2.4.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-elliot.2.4.2) When they came closer, and, on getting a view of my troops, found them drawn up in the order and with the defences that have been mentioned, they were brought up, and stood for a while as if considering, "Shall we halt or not? shall we advance or not?" They could not halt, and they were unable to advance with the same speed as before. I sent orders to the troops stationed as flankers on the extremes of the right and left divisions, to wheel round the enemy's flank with all possible speed, and instantly to attack them in the rear; the right and left divisions were also ordered to charge the enemy. The flankers accordingly wheeled on the rear of the enemy, and began to make discharges of arrows on them. Mahdi Khwaja came up before the rest of the left wing. A body of men with one elephant advanced to meet him. My troops gave them some sharp discharges of arrows, and the enemy's division was at last driven back. I despatched from the main body Ahmadi Parwánchi \* \* \* to the assistance of the left division. The battle was likewise obstinate on the right. I ordered Muhammadi Gokultash \* \* \* to advance in front of the centre and engage. Ustád 'Ali Kuli also discharged his guns many times in front of the line to good purpose. Mustafa, the cannoneer, on the left of the centre, managed his artillery with great effect. ### [2.4.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-elliot.2.4.3) The right and left divisions, the centre and flankers, having surrounded the enemy and taken them in rear, were now engaged in hot conflict, and busy pouring in discharges of arrows on them. They made one or two very poor charges on our right and left divisions. My troops, making use of their bows, plied them with arrows, and drove them in upon their centre. The troops on the right and left of their centre, being huddled together in one place, such confusion ensued, that the enemy, while totally unable to advance, found also no road by which they could flee. The sun had mounted spear-high when the onset of battle began, and the combat lasted till mid-day, when the enemy were completely broken and routed, and my friends victorious and exulting. By the grace and mercy of Almighty God, this arduous undertaking was rendered easy for me, and this mighty army, in the space of half a day, laid in the dust. Five or six thousand men were discovered lying slain in one spot near Ibráhim. We reckoned that the number lying slain in different parts of the field of battle, amounted to 15,000 or 16,000 men. On reaching Agra, we found from the accounts of the natives of Hindustan, that 40,000 or 50,000 men had fallen in this field. After routing the enemy, we continued the pursuit, slaughtering and making them prisoners. Those who were ahead began to bring in the amirs and Afghans as prisoners. ### [2.4.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-elliot.2.4.4) They brought in a very great number of elephants, with their drivers, and offered them to me as peshkash. Having pursued the enemy to some distance, and supposing that Ibrahim had escaped from the battle, I appointed Kismai Mirza, \* \* \* with a party of my immediate adherents, to follow him in close pursuit down as far as Agra. Having passed through the middle of Ibrahim's camp, and visited his pavilions and accommodations, we encamped on the banks of the Siyah-ab (Kdlini). It was now afternoon prayers when Tahir Tabari, the younger brother of Khalifa, having found Ibrahim lying dead amidst a number of slain, cut off his head, and brought it in. That very day I directed Humayun Mirza \* \* \* to set out without baggage or encumbrances, and proceed with all possible expedition to occupy Agra, and take possession of the treasuries. I at the same time ordered Mahdi Khwaja and \* \* \* to leave their baggage, to push on by forced marches, to enter the fort of Dehli, and seize the treasuries. ### [2.4.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-elliot.2.4.5) Next morning we marched, and having proceeded about a kos, halted on the banks of the Jumna, in order to refresh our horses. After other two marches, on Tuesday I visited the mausoleum of Nizam Auliya, and at the end of the third march encamped near Dehli, on the banks of the Jumna. The same night being Wednesday, I circumambulated the tomb of Khwaja Kutbu-d din, and visited the tomb and palaces of Sultan Ghiyasu-d din Balban, of Sultan 'Alau-d din Khilji, and his minaret, the Shams tank, the royal tank, the tombs and gardens of Sultan Bahlol and Sultan Sikandar, after which I returned into the camp, and went on board of a boat, where we drunk arak. I bestowed the office of shikkdar (or military collector) of Dehli on Wali Kizil; I made Dost the diwan of Dehli, and directed the different treasuries to be sealed and given into their charge. ### [2.4.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-elliot.2.4.6) On Thursday we moved thence, and halted hard by Tughlikabad, on the banks of the Jumna. On Friday we continued to halt in the same station. Maulána Mahmúd, Shaikh Zain, and some others went into Dehli to Friday prayers, read the khutba in my name, distributed some money among the fakirs and beggars, and then returned back. On Saturday we marched from our ground, and proceeded, march after march, upon Agra. I went and saw Tughlikábád ; after which I rejoined the camp. On Friday, the 22nd Rajab, I halted in the suburbs of Agra, at the palace of Sulaimán Farmuli. As this position was very far from the fort, I next morning moved and took up my quarters at the palace of Jalál Khán Jaghat. The people of the fort had put off Humáyún, who arrived before me, with excuses ; and he, on his part, considering that they were under no control, and wishing to prevent their plundering the treasure, had taken a position to shut up the issues from the place. ### [2.4.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-elliot.2.4.7) Bikramájít, a Hindu, who was Rája of Gwálior, had governed that country for upwards of 100 years. Sikandar had remained several years in Agra, employed in an attempt to take Gwálior. Afterwards, in the reign of Ibráhím, 'Azím Humáyún Sirwáni invested it for some time, made several attacks, and at length succeeded in gaining it by treaty, Shamsábád being given as an indemnification. In the battle in which Ibráhím was defeated, Bikramájít was sent to hell. Bikramájít's family, and the heads of his clan, were at this moment in Agra. When Humáyún arrived, Bikramájít's people attempted to escape, but were taken by the parties which Humáyún had placed upon the watch, and put in custody. Humáyún did not permit them to be plundered. Of their own free will they offered Humáyún a peshkash, consisting of a quantity of jewels and precious stones. Among these was one famous diamond, which had been acquired by Sultán 'Aláu-d dín. It is so valuable that a judge of diamonds valued it at half of the daily expense of the whole world. It is about eight miskáls. On my arrival Humáyún presented it to me as a peshkash, and I gave it back to him as a present. \* \* \* A pargana of the value of seven lacs was bestowed on Ibrahim's mother. Parganas were also given to each of her amírs. She was conducted with all her effects to a palace, which was assigned for her residence, about a kos below Agra. ### [2.4.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-elliot.2.4.8) On Thursday, the 28th Rajab, about the hour of afternoon prayers, I entered Agra, and took up my residence in Sultán Ibrahim's palace. From the time when I conquered the country of Kábul, which was in the year 910, till the present time, I had always been bent on subduing Hindústán. Sometimes, however, from the misconduct of my amírs and their dislike of the plan, sometimes from the cabals and opposition of my brothers, I was prevented from prosecuting any expedition into that country, and its provinces escaped being overrun. At length these obstacles were removed. There was now no one left, great or small, noble or private man, who could dare to utter a word in opposition to the enterprise. In the year 925 I collected an army, and having taken the fort of Bajaur by storm in two or three gharis, put all the garrison to the sword. I next advanced into Bahrah, where I prevented all marauding and plunder, imposed a contribution on the inhabitants, and having levied it to the amount of 400,000 Sháh-rukhís in money and goods, divided the proceeds among the troops who were in my service, and returned back to Kábul. From that time till the year 932, I attached myself in a peculiar degree to the affairs of Hindústán, and in the space of these seven or eight years entered it five times at the head of an army. ### [2.4.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-elliot.2.4.9) The fifth time the Most High God, of his grace and mercy, cast down and defeated an enemy so mighty as Sultán Ibrahim, and made me the master and conqueror of the powerful empire of Hindústán. \* \* \* The capital of all Hindustan is Dehli. From the time of Sultan Shahabu-d din Ghori to the end of Sultan Firoz Shah's time, the greater part of Hindustan was in the possession of the Emperor of Dehli. At the period when I conquered that country five Musulman kings and two Pagans exercised royal authority. Although there were many small and inconsiderable Rais and Rajas in the hills and woody country, yet these were the chief and the only ones of importance. One of these powers was the Afghans, whose government included the capital, and extended from Bahrah to Behar. Jaunpur, before it fell into the power of the Afghans, was held by Sultan Husain Sharki. This dynasty they called the Purbi (or eastern). Their forefathers had been cupbearers to Sultan Firoz Shah, and that race of Sultans. After Sultan Firoz Shah's death, they gained possession of the kingdom of Jaunpur. Dehli was at that period in the hands of Sultan 'Alau-d din, whose family were saiyids. When Timur Beg invaded Hindustan, before leaving the country, he had bestowed the country of Dehli on their ancestors. Sultan Bahlol Lodi Afghan, and his son Sultan Sikandar, afterwards seized the throne of Dehli, as well as that of Jaunpur, and reduced both kingdoms under one government. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-elliot.2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.babur.baburnama~en-elliot.2.4) · Pramāṇa