ʿAmal-i Shalih 6: Thirty-second Year of the Reign.
'Amal-i Sálih, of Muhammad Sálih Kambu (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 6
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Thirty-second Year of the Reign.
6.1
[In the eyes of his father the Emperor, Prince Dara Shukoh was superior to his brothers both in merit and age. When his other sons departed to their respective governments, the Emperor, from excessive love and partiality, would not allow Dara Shukoh to go away from him. He also evinced the greatest partiality and affection for the Prince, providing for his honour and dignity. * * Shah Buland Ikbal (Dara Shukoh) took upon himself to interfere in the direction of affairs of State, and induced His Majesty to do many unwise things which tended to create disturbances. He urged that Murad Bakhsh had diverged from the path of rectitude, and had not ceased to act improperly. It was therefore advisable to remove him from the suba of Ahmadabad, and to settle upon him the jagir of Birar. If he obeyed the Emperor's order and proceeded to Birar, his offences might be forgiven and clemency be extended to him. But if, from want of foresight and intelligence, he should prove refractory and disobey the orders, he should be suitably chastised and be brought to Court under restraint. Dara Shukoh then spoke of Prince Aurangzeb, and represented that a party of intriguers had artfully led him astray, and nolens volens had persuaded him that he had been worsted by the malice and revenge of his brother (Dara Shukoh), and that he should get the assistance of his brother (Murad Bakhsh), who had resolved upon rebellion.
6.2
He should then march with the splendid army under his command to the capital, under the pretence of paying a visit to his father, and wherever he passed he should subvert the authority of the Government. To carry out his aims Aurangzeb had set himself to win over to his side the great nobles of the State, some of whom he had made his own, and that he was endeavouring to effect his object by secret communications before his designs should become public. The money which he had received as tribute from Kutbu-l Mulk he had spent without permission in the raising of forces, and it would not be long before he would cast off his obedience and commence a war. It was to be hoped that the army which had been sent by the Emperor for the reduction of Bijapur, and was now with Aurangzeb, might not be won over by the money which he had received as tribute; for assuredly, if this were so, it would be a great danger to the State, which it would be almost impossible to avert. The first thing to be done was to send farmans recalling all the nobles and their forces from the Dakhin. Then a strenuous effort should be made to get possession of the treasure. By these means the strength and greatness of the Prince would be diminished, and the friends and allies, the strength of his cause, would fall away. * * Although the Emperor showed no haste in adopting these views, he was quite willing to send the letters. He could not resist the influence Prince Dara had obtained over him.
6.3
So letters of the unpleasant purport above described were sent off by the hands of some of the Imperial messengers. The messengers reached Prince Aurangzeb as he was engaged in directing the operations against Bijapur, and he had the place closely invested. The arrival of the messengers disturbed the minds of the soldiers, and greatly incensed the Prince; so, much confusion arose. Some of the nobles, Mahabat Khan, Rao Sattar Sal, and others, went off to Agra without leave or notice. Mu'azzam Khan also, who was the head and director of this campaign, acted in a very ungenerous and foolish way, and wanted to go off to Agra, quite regardless of the duty and respect he owed, to the Prince.
6.4
This want of support from his followers, and the anxiety he felt about the Emperor, led the Prince to accept the proposals of the people of Bijapur. Having settled this difficult matter, he marched towards Aurangabad; and as soon as he arrived there, he sent messengers in a courteous way to Mu'azzam Khan, desiring him to come and have an interview. The Khan would not listen to the invitation, and acted in a manner unworthy of a great noble. So the Prince ordered Prince Sultan Muhammad to set forth with all speed and use every expedient to bring the Khan to his presence. When the directions were carried out, and the Khan arrived, Aurangzeb immediately provided for his punishment, and sent him prisoner to the fort of Daulatabad. He seized all his treasure, elephants and other property, and gave them into the charge of the State treasurers.]