Muntakhab al-lubab 43: Murder of Prince Murad Bakhsh.

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[Vol. ii. p. 155.] The author of the 'Alamgir-nama has given an account of the killing of Murad Bakhsh as suited his own pleasure (marzi). I now give my version of it as I have ascertained it from written records, and as I have heard it from the evidence of truthful men of the time, and from the mouth of my own father, who was a confidential servant of Murad Bakhsh, and until his services were no longer needed lived at the foot of the fort (of Gwalior), intent upon raising a rope-ladder (kamand) and of rescuing his master, without even thinking of taking service under Aurangzeb. When Muhammad Bakhsh was sent to the fortress, a favourite concubine, named Sarsun Bai, was at his request allowed to accompany him. The unfortunate prisoner used to give away half what was allowed him for his support in cooked food to the Mughals and Mughal woman who had followed him to his place of captivity, and lived in poverty at the foot of the fortress. After many schemes had been proposed, the Mughals contrived a plan for fastening a rope-ladder to the ramparts at a given time and place. After the second watch of the night, before the world was asleep, Murad Bakhsh communicated his intended escape to Sarsun Bai, and promised to do his best to return and rescue her. On hearing this, Sarsun Bai began to weep and cry out in such a way that the guards heard what she said, and with lights and torches searched for and discovered the ladder. When the plot was communicated to Aurangzeb, he felt some alarm for his throne. At the instigation of some of the Emperor's friends, the sons of 'Ali Naki, whom Murad Bakhsh had put to death, brought a charge of murder against him. The eldest son refused to demand satisfaction for his father's death, but the second complied with the expressed wish, and brought a charge of murder in a court of law against Murad Bakhsh. The case came at length before the Emperor, and he directed that it should be submitted to a judge. After it had been decided according to law, the order was given in Rabi'u-s sani, 1072 A.H., for the judge to go along with the heir of the slain man to Murad Bakhsh to pronounce the sentence of the law, upon the murder being proved. The date of his death is found in the line Ai wai ba-har bahanah kushtand, "Alas and alas! on some pretext they killed him." His gracious Majesty rewarded the eldest son for not enforcing his claim of blood.