Padshah-namah 3: Rebellion of Jajhar Singh.

3

[Text, vol. i. p. 238.] Jajhar Singh was son of Raja Nar Singh Deo Bundela, who rose into notice by killing Shaikh Abu-l Fazl, the celebrated author of the Akbar-nama, when Jahangir was heir apparent. * In obedience to orders from the Emperor Akbar, the Shaikh was hastening to Court from the Dakhin with a small escort. Jahangir was jealous of the Shaikh's devotion to his father, and was apprehensive that his arrival would interfere with his own plans. * * So he incited Nar Singh Deo to kill him as he passed through his territory. This evil-minded man, from lust of gold, placed a large force of horse and foot in ambush, and fell upon the Shaikh. The followers of the Shaikh advised him to fly and escape, but he refused, and fell in the year 1011 A.H. (1602 A.D.). After the accession of Jahangir to the throne, Nar Singh Deo rose into favour and distinction through this wicked deed. But his evil nature was unable to bear his prosperity, and towards the end of the reign of Jahangir he became disaffected, and oppressed all the zamindars in his neighbourhood. * * He died three or four months before Jahangir, and was succeeded by his son Jajhar Singh. The wealth and property which Nar Singh Deo had amassed without labour and without trouble unsettled the mind of his worthless successor Jajhar, and at the accession of Shah Jahan, * * he left the capital Agra, and proceeded to Undcha, his stronghold, where he set about raising forces, strengthening the forts, providing munitions of war and closing the roads. A force was accordingly sent against him, under the command of Mahabat Khan Khan-khanan. [The Imperial forces converged upon Undcha, and] Jajhar Singh, having no hope of escape, waited upon Khan-khanan and made his submission. Just at this time intelligence arrived that 'Abdu-lla Khan had taken the fortress of Irich, which had been in the possession of Jajhar Singh.