Muntakhab al-lubab 5: Illness of Shah Jahan.

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[vol. ii. p. 4.] On the 7th Zi-l hijja, 1067 A.H. (Sept. 8, 1657 A.D.), (the Emperor Shah Jahan, called after his death) Firdaus makani, was attacked with illness, which turned out to be strangury. This produced much derangement in the government of the country, and in the peace of the people. Dara Shukoh looked upon himself as heir to the throne, and even in the time of his father's health he had held the reins of government. But he had fallen into ill repute through having imbibed the heretical tenets of the Sufis. He had declared infidelity (kufr) and Islam to be twin brothers, and had written treatises on this subject; he had also associated himself with Brahmans and Gosains. Seizing the opportunity (of his father's illness), he took the direction of State affairs into his own hands, and having exacted from the ministers their pledges not to publish what passed in council, he closed the roads of Bengal, Ahmadabad, and the Dakhin against messengers and travellers. But when the intelligence of his officious meddling had spread abroad through the provinces by the dak-chauki (post), a strong adverse feeling was shown by the amirs, zamindars, and raiyats, and also by the unruly spirits who sought for a field of action. Turbulent men from every corner and quarter, and men eager for a fray, in every province and country, raised their heads in expectation of strife.
When intelligence of these proceedings reached Muhammad Shuja' in Bengal, and Muhammad Murad Bakhsh in Ahmadabad, each of them, vying with the other, had coins struck and the khutba read in his own name. Shuja', with a large force, marched against Bihar and Patna, and the news of his movements was carried to the capital. Shah Jahan had from the very first shown great partiality and affection for Dara Shukoh, and generally, in all matters, had done his best to gratify his son. Now that he was ill, and no longer master of himself, he was more than ever inclined to gratify Dara and yield to his wishes. Dara Shukoh looked with an eye of apprehension upon the talents of Prince Aurangzeb, and was made uneasy by the vigour and wisdom which he displayed. So, by various arguments, he induced his father to recall to Court the nobles and generals who were engaged with Aurangzeb in the siege of Bijapur. When this evil news became known, the prosecution and completion of the siege of Bijapur was prevented. Aurangzeb made an arrangement with Sikandar 'Adil Shah of Bijapur, and accepted from him a promise to pay a tribute of a kror of rupees in cash and goods as the price of peace. He then raised the siege of Bijapur, and proceeded to Khujista-bunyad (Aurangabad). After this he learned that Dara Shukoh, with the intention of getting possession of the treasure of Shah Jahan, had left Dehli, and had gone to Agra.