Manazil al-futuh 1.1.2

1.1.2

In short, the author will explicitly relate a useful summary of the wondrous events that took place at the battle of Panipat, and the annihilation of the vile infidel Mahrattas; detailing both whatever he has seen with his own eyes, and whatever authentic information he has acquired from other historians in every quarter. Wherever any one else has written a different version to that of the author's, it is entirely erroneous, and unworthy of credence, and that man has, solely with a view to his own glorification, uttered falsehoods without any foundation. Now the author was at that time Comptroller of Affairs to Sardar Shah Pasand Khan, who was chief over 12,000 horse, consisting of Kazalbdshis, Abdalis, Ohahdras, Aimaks of Hirat, Marvis, Jazinis, Wardaks, Uzbaks, Charkhis, Hutakis, and Ghiljais; as well as ddrogha of Ahmad Sultan's stable, and of the paiks and harkdras (couriers and messengers). He formed the vanguard and advanced division of the army, and during the heat of the conflict we were opposed to Jhanku and Malhdr Rao, two leaders of the aforesaid Mahrattas, and from all sides couriers kept constantly bringing us intelligence. Nothing, therefore, more accurate than this that I have written, has ever met any one's sight; and accordingly the movements and dispositions of the forces, and other particulars of the action, and of the period they were halted confronting each other, will here be fully detailed.