The Memoirs of Jahāngīr (Jahāngīrnāma) 3.7
The Tūzuk-i-Jahāngīrī (Rogers, Beveridge) 3.7
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3.7.1
Another of the well-known deeds of Akbar was the victorious expedition against Gujarat, and his rapid march there, at the time when Mirza Ibrahim Husain, Muhammad Husain Mirza, and Shah Mirza revolted from this State and went towards Gujarat, and all the nobles of that province, combining with the turbulent of those parts, besieged the fort of Ahmadabad in which was Mirza 'Aziz Koka with the royal army. His Majesty, in consequence of the distracted state of Jiji Anga, the mother of the last-named Mirza, started for Gujarat with a body of royal troops without delay from the capital of Fathpur. Having covered in the space of nine days the long road which it should take two months to accomplish, sometimes on horseback, sometimes on a camel or in a bullock-cart, he arrived at Sarnal. When, on 5th Jumada-l-awwal, 980 (September 15th, 1572), he reached the neighbourhood of the enemy's camp, he consulted with those who were loyal to him Some said he should make a night attack on the camp. His Majesty, however, said that a night attack was the resort of the faint-hearted and the way of the deceitful, and immediately gave orders to beat the drums and set the horsemen at them. When the river Sabar Mahi (Sabarmati) was reached, he ordered his men to cross it in order. Muhammad Husain Mirza was agitated by the noise of the army of victory, and himself came forward to reconnoitre.
3.7.2
Subhan Quli Turk, also with a troop of brave men, went to the river's bank to enquire into the enemy's position. The Mirza asked what troops these were. Subhan Quli replied that they were of the army of King Jalalu-d-din Akbar. That ill-fated one would not believe this, and said his spies had seen the king fourteen days before in Fathpur, and that it was clear Subhan Quli was lying. To this Subhan Quli rejoined, "Nine days ago the king with this expedition started from Fathpur." "How could elephants have come?" asked the Mirza. "What need was there of elephants?" answered Subhan Quli. "Young men and heroes who cleave rocks, and are better than famous and raging elephants, have come; the difference between loyalty and sedition will now become known." The Mirza, after this conversation, turned aside and began to marshal his troops. The king waited until his advanced guard sent word that the enemy had put on their armour. He then moved forward, and although he sent several times to order the Khan A'zam to advance, the latter stood still. It was said to Akbar that, as the enemy was in force, it would be well to remain on his side of the river until the army of Gujarat arrived from within the fort. His Majesty answered: "Always, and especially in this affair, I have put my trust in God. If I had considered routine, I should not have come in this rapid manner.
3.7.3
Now that our foe is ready for the fight, we ought not to delay." With these words, and with his innate reliance on God as his shield, he put his horse into the river with a few chosen men whom he had appointed to ride with him. Though it was not supposed that there was a ford, he crossed in safety. He had called for his helmet, but in the agitation of bringing it his armour-bearer dropped the face-guard (buffe). His comrades did not regard this as a good omen, but he said at once, " It is an excellent omen, for it has revealed my face." Meantime the wretched Mirza arrayed his ranks to fight his benefactor. " If thou come out (to fight) with thy benefactor, If thou wert the sphere, thou wouldest be reversed."
3.7.4
The Khan A'zam had had no idea that the king would cast the shadow of his compassion on these regions with such speed and eagerness, and he believed no one who gave him news of that arrival, until convinced by visible proof. Then, arraying the army of Gujarat, he prepared to march. Meanwhile Asaf Khan also sent news to him. Before his army issued from the fort the enemy had appeared from amongst the trees. The king, taking the Divine aid as the security of his courage, started off. Muhammad Quli Khan Turk and Tardi Khan Diwana came forward with a band of brave followers, and after a little fighting turned rein. On this His Majesty said to Bhagwan Das, " The enemy are unnumbered and we are few; we must attack with one face and one heart ; for a clenched fist is more useful than an open hand." With these words he drew his sword, and with shout of Allahu-akbar and Ya Mu'in charged with those devoted to him. " The sense of the age evaporated with the clamour, The ear of the heavens was split with the shouts."
3.7.5
The royal right and left wings and a band of brave men in the centre fought with valour. Stars (kaukabah), which are a kind of firework, were lighted by the enemy ; they twisted about among the thorn-bushes, and created such confusion that a noted elephant of the enemy began to move and threw their troops into disarray. With this the royal centre came up and dispersed Muhammad Husain and his force. Man Singh Darbari overcame his foe under the king's eyes, and Ragho Das Kachhwaha sacrificed his life. Muhammad Wafa, who was of the house-born of the State, behaving very bravely, fell wounded from his horse. By the favour of the Creator who cherishes His servants, and simply through the courage and good fortune of the exalted king, the enemy were scattered and defeated. In gratitude for this great victory the king turned his face in supplication to the throne of his merciful Maker, and poured forth his thanks. One of the kalawants (musicians) represented to His Majesty that Saif Khan Kokaltash had offered the coin of his life in loyalty to the State, and on enquiry it appeared that when Muhammad Husain Mirza with some of his riffraff was attacking the centre Saif Khan met him and fighting valiantly became a martyr. The Mirza himself was wounded by the hands of the brave men of the main body. The Kokaltash mentioned is the elder brother of Zain Khan Koka.
3.7.6
A strange circumstance was this: on the day before the battle, when the king was eating, he asked Hazara, who was learned in the science of looking at the shoulder-blades (a kind of divination), to see on whose side the victory would be. Hazara said: "The victory will be on your side, but one of the chiefs of your army will become a martyr." Whereupon Saif Khan Koka said, "Would that this blessing might fall to my lot!" "Many an omen that we have treated as jest Became true when the star passed by."
3.7.7
In short, Mirza Muhammad Husain turned his reins, but his horse's feet became entangled in the thorn-brake and he fell. An ahadi of the king, Gada 'Ali by name, found him, and having mounted him before him on his horse took him to the king. As two or three claimed a share in his capture, His Majesty asked who had made him prisoner. "The king's salt," he answered. The king ordered his hands, that had been fastened behind him, to be tied in front. Meanwhile he asked for water. Farhat Khan, who was one of the confidential slaves, struck him on the head, but the king, disapproving of this, sent for his private drinking water and satisfied his thirst. Up to this time Mirza 'Aziz Koka and the garrison of the fort had not come out. After the capture of the Mirza, His Majesty was proceeding slowly towards Ahmadabad. He had delivered the Mirza to Ray Ray Singh Rathor, one of the Rajput chiefs, to be put on an elephant and brought with him. Meanwhile Ikhtiyaru-l-mulk, who was one of the influential Gujarati leaders, made his appearance with an army of nearly 5,000 men. Complete confusion fell upon the royal troops. The king, as his natural valour and lofty disposition required, ordered the drums to be beaten, and Shajaat Khan, Raja Bhagwan Das, and some others charged on in front to fight this force.
3.7.8
Fearing that the enemy might get possession of Mirza Muhammad Husain, Ray Ray Singh's men, by the advice and plan of the aforesaid Raja (Bhagwan Das), cut off his head. My father did not want to kill him. The forces of Ikhtiyaru-l-mulk also were dispersed, and he was thrown from his horse into the thorn thicket. Suhrab Beg Turkman cut off his head and brought it in. It was only by the grace and power of God that such a victory was won by a small number of men. In the same way are beyond all reckoning the conquest of the province of Bengal, the capture of well-known and celebrated forts in Hindustan such as Chitor and Rantambhor, the subjection of the province of Khandesh, and the taking of the fort of Asir and of other provinces which by the exertions of the royal armies came into the possession of the servants of the State. If these were related in detail it would be a long story.