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The Memoirs of Jahāngīr (Jahāngīrnāma) 3.6.3

The Tūzuk-i-Jahāngīrī (Rogers, Beveridge) 3.6.3

Language
English

3.6.3

After the birth of Daniyal a daughter was born to Bibi Daulat-Shad whom they named Shakaru-n-nisa Begam. As she was brought up in the skirt of my revered father's care, she turned out very well. She is of good disposition and naturally compassionate towards all people. From infancy and childhood she has been extremely fond of me, and there can be few such relationships between brother and sister. The first time when, according to the custom of pressing the breast of a child and a drop of milk is perceptible, they pressed my sister's breast and milk appeared, my revered father said to me: "Baba! drink this milk, that in truth this sister may be to thee as a mother." God, the knower of secrets, knows that from that day forward, after I drank that drop of milk, I have felt love for my sister such as children have for their mothers. After some time another girl was born to this same Bibi Daulat-Shad, and he (Akbar) called her Aram Banu Begam. Her disposition was on the whole inclined to excitement and heat. My father was very fond of her, so much so that he described her impolitenesses as politenesses, and in his august sight they, from his great love, did not appear bad. Repeatedly he honoured me by addressing me, and said: "Baba! for my sake be as kind as I am, after me, to this sister, who in Hindi phrase is my darling (that is, dearly cherished). Be affectionate to her and pass over her little impolitenesses and impudences."