The History of Humāyūn (Gulbadan Begam) 4.2.8

4.2.8

In 1545 Kabul heard that Humayun was on his way back from Persia with the Shah's army behind him. A first result of this was to bring the little Akbar within reach of Khanzada and to her charge. All the histories tell of his wintry journey from Qandahar taken with Bakhshi-banu, the one being under three and the other about four. Their coming adds a touch of tenderness to the histories. Khanzada, who paces through the histories sad and wise and trusted. She kissed the baby feet and hands of Akbar, and declared they were the very hands and feet of Babar, and that he was like him altogether. Her first marriage with Shaibani had been made to save Babar from captivity or death. She was divorced because suspected of leaning to his side when his interests conflicted with her husband's, and she had been restored to him (1511) when she was about thirtythree years old. To the reader’s fancy she wears a mourning garb, she is mentioned with deference, and is a dignified figure in the turmoil of her day. Her third marriage, — she was doubly widowed at Merv, — takes an impersonal colour, as an alliance which her age, story and loss of her only son make seem rather one contracted to confer honour and afford her a safe home, than on any ground of personal affection. She bore Mahdi no child, she adopted his sister Sultanam at the age of two, and reared her to become the wife of Hindal.