The Memoirs of Jahāngīr (Jahāngīrnāma) 30.8

30.8

At first Salih was astonished, and did not believe that Bi-daulat was coming, until a letter came from La‘natu-llah to conciliate him. Salih fortified Bardwan and remained in it. Ibrahim K. was surprised on hearing the terrible news. Though most of his auxiliaries and soldiers were scattered in the villages round about and unprocurable, he yet planted the foot of courage firmly in Akbarnagar (Rajmahal), and set himself to strengthen the fort and collect troops, and encourage the heads of tribes and retainers. He prepared the things necessary for his guns and other weapons and for battle. In the meanwhile a notice came to him from Bi-daulat that by the decree of God and the ordinances of heaven what was not suitable to him had appeared from the womb of non-existence. By the revolving of crooked-moving time and the changes of night and day his passage towards these regions had come to pass. Although to the view of manly courage the extent and breadth of that country were not more than an exercising-ground, or rather than a rubbish-heap (fur-kahi, “full of straw”), and his aims were higher, yet as he had to pass by this way, he could not pass for nothing. If it were Ibrahim’s determination to go to the royal Court, he (Shah Jahan) would hold back the hand of injury from him and his family, and he might go to Court with an easy mind. If he considered it advisable to stay, he would bestow upon him any corner of the country he might ask for.