Muntakhab al-lubab 123: Illness of the Emperor.

123

[Text, vol. ii. p. 540.] After the conclusion of the fast of Ramazan, the Emperor again turned his attention to business. He then proceeded to Ahmadnagar. In the month of Zi-l hijja the intelligence was brought of Zu-l fikar Khan having reduced the fort of Bakhshinda-bakhsh (Kandana). Prince Muhammad A'zam Shah was in the province of Ahmadabad. When he heard of his father's illness, he wrote for leave to visit his father, stating as an excuse that the climate of Ahmadabad was very unfavourable to him. This displeased the Emperor, who replied that he had written a letter of exactly the same effect to his father Shah Jahan when he was ill, and that he was told in answer, that every air (hawa) was suitable to a man except the fumes (hawa) of ambition. But the Prince wrote repeatedly to the same effect, and was then appointed to the suba of Malwa. He did not, however, go to Ujjain, but wrote for leave to visit his father. A grudging permission was given, and the Prince made the best of his way, so that he arrived at the end of the month. The suba of Ahmadabad, which was taken from him, was given to Muhammad Ibrahim Khan. * *
When Prince Muhammad A'zam Shah reached his father's Court, his confidence in his own courage and boldness, and his pride in the army and treasure he had got together at Ahmadabad, made him aspire to the royal state and treasure. He thought nothing about his elder brother, but considered himself the chief in every way. Prince Muhammad Kam Bakhsh he looked upon as removed from rivalry by incompetence. But he had observed the altered temper of his father, whose feelings were not always in their natural state. His first thoughts fell upon Prince Muhammad 'Azim, who was at 'Azimabad, or Patna, in Bihar, where he had been some time Subadar, and had obtained a repute for amassing treasures. Therefore he wished to remove him by getting him recalled to Court; and by various representations, some false, some true, he so worked upon the mind of the Emperor that orders were issued for his recall, * * and the Prince proceeded to wait upon his grandfather.
Confirmation was received, through the Governor of Multan, of the death of Prince Muhammad Akbar in Garmsir, the report of which had been current for a year past.