The Memoirs of Jahāngīr (Jahāngīrnāma) 10.1
Dwázda-Sála-i Jahángírí; Wáki’át Jahángírí, of the Emperor Jahángír (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 10.1
- Language
- English
10.1.1
[In the first year after my accession Khusru, influenced by the petulance and pride which accompany youth, by his want of experience and prudence, and by the encouragement of evil companions, got some absurd notions into his head. In the time of my father’s illness some short-sighted men, trembling for their crimes and despairing of pardon, conceived the idea of raising him to the throne, and of placing the reins of the State in his hands. They never reflected that sovereignty and government cannot be managed and regulated by men of limited intelligence. The Supreme Dispenser of Justice gives this high mission to those whom he chooses, and it is not every one that can becomingly wear the robes of royalty. The vain dreams of Khusru and his foolish companions could end in nothing but trouble and disgrace; so when I obtained the sovereignty, I confined [girifta) him, and quieted my doubts and apprehensions. Still I was anxious to be kind and considerate to him, and to cure him of his ridiculous notions; but it was all in vain. At length he concocted a scheme with his abettors, and on the night of the 20th Zi-l hijja, he represented that he was going to visit the tomb of my father. Fifty horsemen in his interest came into the fort of Agra, and went off in that direction. A little afterwards, intelligence was brought that Khusru had escaped. The Amíru-l umará having ascertained the fact, sent into my private apartments, desiring to speak with me on an urgent affair.
10.1.2
I thought that perhaps some news had come from the Dakhin or from Gujarát. When I heard what had occurred, I said, “What is to be done, shall I mount and pursue him, or shall I send Khurram?” The Amíru-l umará said he would go if I would give him permission, and I said, “Be it so.” He then said, “If he will not be persuaded to return, and force becomes necessary, what am I to do?” I said, “If he will not return to the right way without fighting, do not consider what you may do as a fault—sovereignty does not regard the relation of father and son, and it is said, a king should deem no one his relation.” After having spoken these words, and settled some other matters, I sent him off. It then came to my recollection, that Khusrú had a great hatred of him. He (the Amíru-l umará) also, in consequence of the position and dignity that he holds, is envious of his peers, God forbid lest he should be malicious and destroy him! So I sent to call him back, and I despatched Shaikh Faríd Bokhárí on the service, directing him to take all the mansabdárs and ahadís he could collect. I determined that I myself would start as soon as it was day. * * The news came in that Khusrú was pressing forward to the Panjáb, but the thought came to my mind that he might perhaps be doing this as a blind, his real intention being to go elsewhere. Rája Mán Singh, who was in Bengal, was Khusrú’s maternal uncle, and many thought Khusrú would proceed thither.
10.1.3
But the men who had been sent out in all directions confirmed the report of his going towards the Panjáb. Next morning I arose, and placing my reliance on God, I mounted and set off, not allowing myself to be detained by any person or anything. When I reached the tomb of my honoured father, which is about three kos distant, I offered up prayers for the aid of his protecting spirit. Mírzá Hasan, son of Sháh Rukh Mírzá, who had formed the design of joining Khusrú, was brought in. I questioned him, but he denied the intention. I ordered them to bind his hands, and carry him back on an elephant. This capture I took as a good omen of the blessed assistance vouchsafed to me by that departed spirit.
10.1.4
At mid-day, when it became hot, I rested under the shade of some trees, and I observed to Khan-i ’azam, that I had been so engrossed with this unhappy matter that I had not taken the allowance of opium I usually took in the fore-part of the day, and that no one had reminded me of it. My distress arose from the thought that my son, without any cause or reason, had become my enemy, and that if I did not exert myself to capture him, dissatisfied and turbulent men would support him, or he would of his own accord go off to the Uzbeks or Kazilbashes, and thus dishonour would fall upon my throne. Determined on the course to be pursued, after a short rest, I started from the pargana of Mathura, which is twenty kos from Agra, and after travelling two kos farther, I halted at one of the villages of that pargana, in which there was a tank.
10.1.5
When Khusru arrived at Mathura, he met Hasan Beg Khan Badakhshi, who had received favours from my father, and was coming from Kabul to wait upon me. The Badakhshis are by nature quarrelsome and rebellious, and when Khusru, with his two or three hundred men, fell in with him, Khusru made him commander of his men. Every one whom they met on the road they plundered, and took from him his horse or goods. Merchants and travellers were pillaged, and wherever these insurgents went, there was no security for the women and children. Khusru saw with his own eyes that a cultivated country was being wasted and oppressed, and their atrocities made people feel that death was a thousand times preferable. The poor people had no resource but to join them. If fortune had been at all friendly to him, he would have been overwhelmed with shame and repentance, and would have come to me without the least apprehension. It is well known how I pardoned his offences, and with what great kindness and gentleness I treated him, so as to leave no ground for suspicion in his breast. When, during the days of my father, he was incited by designing men to entertain improper aspirations, he knew that the fact had been communicated to me, but he showed no trust in my kindness. His mother even, in the days when I was a prince, being grieved by his very unseemly acts, and by the unkindness of her younger brother Madhu Singh, took poison and died. How can I describe her excellences and good nature!
10.1.6
She had an excellent understanding, and her affection for me was such that she would have given a thousand sons or brothers as a ransom for one hair of mine. She frequently wrote to Khusru, and urged upon him the proofs of my kindness and affection, but it was all without effect; and when she found that there was no knowing to what lengths he would go, her Rajput pride was wounded, and she set her heart upon death. From time to time her mind wandered, and her father and brothers all agreed in telling me she was insane. After a time she appeared to recover, but on the 26th Zi-l hijja, 1013 H., when I had gone out hunting, she, in a state of aberration, took an excessive quantity of opium, and died soon afterwards, hoping that her fate would bring her undutiful son to contrition. She was my first bride, and I was married to her in youth. After the birth of Khusru, I gave her the title of Shah Begam. Unable to endure the ill-conduct of her son and brothers towards me, she gave up her life, and so relieved herself from vexation and sorrow. Her death took such an effect upon me that I did not care to live, and had no pleasure in life. For four nights and days, that is for thirty-two watches, in the depth of distress and sorrow, I did not care to eat or drink. When my father heard of my state, in his extreme kindness and affection, he sent me a robe and the turban which he had worn upon his own head.
10.1.7
This great favour fell like water on the flaming fire of my affliction, and gave me relief and comfort. But the recital of all this had no effect upon Khusru. By his wicked and unfilial conduct he had caused the death of his mother, and for no reason, but from mere freak and vicious fancy, he had broken out in rebellion against me, and thrown off all duty and obedience. It was necessary to punish his evil conduct, and at last he carried matters to such a length that he was placed in confinement. On the 2nd Zi-l hijja I halted at Hindal, and sent Shaikh Farid Bokhari with some men in pursuit of Khusru, and I gave him the command of the advance force. I sent Dost Muhammad to take care of Agra, and of the palaces and treasure. When I departed from Agra, I left that city in charge of ’Itimadu-d daula and Waziru-l Mulk. I now told Dost Muhammad that as I was going to the Panjab, and that province was under the diwani of ’Itimadu-d daula, he was to send the latter to me, and that he was to seize and keep in confinement the sons of Mirza Muhammad Hakim, who were in Agra; for if my own son could act in the way he had done, what might I expect from my uncle’s sons? After the departure of Dost Muhammad, Mu’izzu-l Mulk became bakhshi.