Muntakhab al-lubab 32.1

32.1

[vol. ii. p. 101.] Many letters passed between the Emperor Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb, full of complaints and reproaches on one side, and of irritating excuses on the other. There is no advantage to be gained from recording this correspondence, and the copies of the Emperor's letters are not in the author's possession; but two or three letters which Aurangzeb wrote to his father are here reproduced verbatim, and the contents of Shah Jahan's letters may be inferred from them. [p. 104.] The third letter is in answer to one written by Shah Jahan to Aurangzeb, pardoning his offences, and sending some jewels and clothes, belonging to Dara Shukoh, which had been left in his palace. "After discharging the observances of religion, it is represented to your most august presence. The gracious letter which you sent in answer to the humble statement of your servant conferred great honour upon him at a most auspicious time. The glad tidings of the pardon of his faults and sins has filled him with joy and gladness. Through the gracious kindness of his fault-forgiving and excuse-accepting father and master, he is filled with hope. Thanks be to God that Your Highness, listening to the suggestions of equity and merit, has preferred mercy to revenge, and has rescued this wicked and disgraced sinner from the abyss of sorrow and misery in both worlds! His firm hope in the mercy of God is that in future no unworthy action will proceed from this humble servant!