Tarikh-i Salatin-i Afaghina 10: Continuation of the reign of 'Adali.
Táríkh-i Salátín-i Afághana of Ahmad Yádgár (extracts) 10
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Continuation of the reign of 'Adali.
10.1
When intelligence of what had occurred to Humayun reached Chunar, 'Adil Shah deliberated with his courtiers, and determined that, as the Mughal army had lost their king, they must be disheartened and distressed; that if they were attacked by a large force, they would fly without fighting, and Dehli would easily be taken; that Sikandar was in the Siwalik hills in a state of great want; and that there was no one sufficiently powerful to have designs against Dehli. Himun observed, "If the King will send Ahmad Khan Sur, Allah-dad Khan Sarwani, and Daulat Shah Kirani, with a large army, and some powerful elephants, with me, by the fortune of the King, I will overthrow the Mughal troops, and gain possession of Dehli. There was a soothsayer in 'Adil Shah's service, who could interpret the appearances of the heavens as easily as he could the signs on an astrological table. He was extremely skilful in explaining everything that related to the heavenly bodies. The King said to him, "I am about to send an army against Dehli.
10.2
You must therefore pay great attention to the state of the heavens, and then tell fearlessly what you have learnt before the throne." The man spent three days in carefully contemplating the stars and aspects, and then went before the King, and said, "This I have learned from the revolutions of the heavens and the changes of day and night, — that after Humayun, his son, who is seated on the Imperial throne, will be entrusted with the entire government of Hind, and the rulers of all countries will place their foreheads in the dust before his throne, and no one will vanquish him. The land of Hindustan, from Kandahar to the sea of the south, and from Kambhayit (Cambay) to the sea of Bengal, will own his sway." 'Adil Shah was much dispirited at this unfavourable speech. Himun said, "O King, the case is thus: he is now a child ten years old, who has lost his father, and the Mughal army is not yet firmly established. It is easy to root up a small plant." 'Adil Shah derived confidence from his speech, and prepared a powerful force. He sent 7000 horsemen and twenty war-elephants with Himun; who went, march by march, to Gwalior.
10.3
'Ali Kuli, who was at that place, came against him. The valour of the Afghan troops enabled them to overcome him in the first attack, and many Mughals fell. 'Ali Kuli fled, accompanied by a few followers, and all his property and valuables fell into the hands of the Afghans. Himun, rejoiced at this victory, sent an account of his success, together with the spoils captured from the Mughals, to 'Adil Shah, who was exceedingly pleased when he received it, and looked on this first piece of good fortune as a proof that he was always destined to be victorious. He gave a great festival, and sent Himun a dress of honour, adorned with jewels and worked with gold thread, and an elephant, and made him promises of unlimited favour.
10.4
When Himun learnt the bestowal of these favours, he advanced, and after he had passed Agra, rumours reached Dehli of the coming of 'Adil Shah's troops. The Chaghatais assembled from different directions and consulted together. Tardi Muhammad Khan said, "It appears to me that it would be better to quit this place and join the Prince, that the never-failing good fortune of Jalalu-d din may overshadow us." Abu-l Ma'ali and the other Chaghatai nobles said, "This shows want of heart. The Afghan army has not yet arrived, and we have not been vanquished by their superior force. If we then quit Dehli, what answer shall we be able to give to-morrow before the throne?" Tardi Beg would not, however, agree with them, say what they would, and separated himself and his army from them. The other nobles prepared for action.
10.5
Himun encamped in the neighbourhood of Old Dehli, and set forth from thence with his army ready for fighting in three divisions. The nobles of the tribe of Chaghatai came forth from Dehli with their valiant troops, and the blood-drinking elephants which had fallen into the prosperous hands of King Humayun during the war with Sikandar Sur. Tardi Beg also came out with his men, and took up his post on the left. Severe fighting took place. At first the Mughals, careless of life, kept up a constant fire of arrows, and the hearts of many Afghans were pierced through and through by their deadly points. They were on the point of flying from the field of battle, when Himun, seeing that his affairs were getting desperate in that quarter, directed Allah-dad Khan to go to their assistance from the left. Allah-dad Khan, who was so brave a man that he had never turned his back to the enemy in any battle, attacked the Mughals, and for a short time kept them in check; but they again fell on him both from the left and right, wounded Allah-dad Khan with their piercing arrows, and scattered his troops as the wind does the clouds. Tardi Beg did not leave his position to assist either party. When Himun saw that the Mughals were in good spirits, and the Afghans disheartened, he advanced with his own division of 3000 cavalry, made an onslaught on the Mughals, and routed them. They were unable to rally, and as they were utterly defeated, they took to flight.
10.6
Himun pursued them, and slaughtered many. The Afghans did not treat Abu-l Ma'ali with great severity, because he had a secret understanding with them. So much plunder of the Mughal army fell into Himun's hands, that it was impossible to take an account of it — 160 elephants, and 1000 horses of Arab breed, and an immense quantity of property and valuables; — Himun collected all, and kept them himself: and from obtaining possession of so many things appertaining to royalty, he began to entertain ambitious ideas, and say, "'Adil Shah is helpless. Although he possessed a valiant army, he could do nothing when Ibrahim and Sikandar rebelled. Now all his elephants and soldiers are with me." Looking on things in this light, he distributed all the spoil, with the exception of the elephants, among the Afghans who accompanied him, and gained them over to his own side. With their concurrence, he entered Dehli, raised the Imperial canopy over him, and ordered coin to be struck in his name. He appointed governors of his own, and brought the Dehli territory and the neighbouring parganas under his control; and in order to console the King, he sent an account of the victory in these words: "Your slave, by the royal fortune, has routed the Mughal army, which was firm as an iron wall; but I hear that Humayun's son commands a numerous force, and is advancing against Dehli.
10.7
For this reason I have kept the horses and elephants of the Mughals, in order that I may be able to face the valiant enemy, and not allow them to reach Dehli." 'Adil Shah was comforted by these deceitful assertions. When the nobles of the tribe of Chaghatai were defeated, and the royal troops retired disheartened from Dehli, news of the defeat of the chiefs, and of the skill and bravery of the infidel, reached the high-fortuned and exalted prince. He marched without halting, with Bairam Khan, and the remainder of the nobles who accompanied him during that expedition, to Sirhind, where he showed great anger against the chiefs. Tardi Beg was punished. The treasury was opened, and gold distributed, and many people were enlisted. They then marched towards Dehli. When they arrived at Thanesar, a census was taken of the army, which was found to consist of 26,000 horsemen. Shah Badagh Khan was sent on ahead with 4000, and directed to keep always one march in front of His Majesty. A halt of some days' duration was made at Thanesar. One day, during the time when accounts of Himun's vigorous measures were daily arriving, Bairam Khan took the Prince into the presence of the Kutbu-l Aktab Saiyid Jalal Thanesari, and procured him the honour of kissing the feet of that most holy individual. When they were about to depart, they begged him to give them the assistance of his prayers. They said, "This accursed infidel is coming with an army numerous as ants and locusts;
10.8
it is proper that your holiness should protect the cause of Islam." The Saiyid reflected for a short time, and then said to them, "Have you not heard what little boys at play say?" He then dismissed them. On the morrow they marched to a distance of seven kos from Karnal, where they encamped. Himun, who had taken possession of the Dehli throne, being informed of the coming of the Mughal forces, went out with regal pomp from Dehli, with the intention of fighting them. It is related, that when Himun was proceeding to Dehli against the nobles of King Humayun, he encamped near Old Dehli. The evening preceding the day on which he expected a battle, he went to the sanctified mausoleum of the Kutbu-l Aktab, His Highness Kutbu-l Hakk, the pole-star of religion and piety, and placing the head of entreaty on the august threshold, vowed that if he were destined to conquer Dehli, — if the throne of Dehli were granted him, and the Mughal troops put to flight, — he would become a Musulman on his return to Dehli, and diffuse the religion of Muhammad. The Almighty gave him victory. But he perjured himself, and did not become a Musulman, or forsake his heathen prejudices; nay, he even persecuted the Musulmans. But at last he saw what he did see.
10.9
When he was going to fight on the field of Panipat, the night before the battle, he beheld, in a dream, a torrent come down and carry away the elephant on which he was mounted. When he was nearly drowned, a Mughal came, cast a chain round his neck, and drew him out. On awaking, he sent for the interpreters of dreams, related his to them, and asked them to explain it. The interpreters, after thinking over the business, looked at one another, and Himun inferred that there was something unpleasant in the explanation. He therefore said, "Banish fear from your minds, tell what you have discovered." The interpreters said, "The torrent which you saw is the Mughal army, which comes with such force that it carries away you and the horse on which you are mounted, and the chain signifies the blood which will flow from your body when you are wounded, and cover you entirely." Himun became fearful, and said, "The very reverse of this dream will happen." On the morrow, when he mounted to proceed to battle, heavy rain fell, and the best elephant of that infidel, which was of gigantic size, was struck in two by lightning. On account of this, Hímún became very thoughtful, and aware that the good fortune of the Mughals was in the ascendant, and that the victory was not for him, he was much terrified at the explanation of his dream, and set forth unwillingly to the fight. His Highness Akbar Mírzá had before this reached Pánípat. Hímún had encamped two kos west of that city.
10.10
He had with him a force of 40,000 calvary, while the Mughal army did not exceed 20,000 horse and foot. The soldiers of both sides had frequent trials of strength during the space of a week. Three days before the battle Bairám Khán gave a great entertainment, and raised a large audience-tent, adorned with embroidered satin, like the flower-beds of a garden in the early spring, or Paradise itself. He spread carpets of various colours, and on them he placed a golden throne, and caused Prince Akbar Mírzá to sit on it; after which, the darbár was opened to the public. The nobles of the Chaghatai tribe were made joyful by the gift of expensive dresses of honour, and regal presents, and promises of future favour were likewise made to them. Bairám Khán said, "This is the commencement of His Majesty's reign. This infidel has routed the whole royal army, and is now making preparations against us. If you do your best in this business, with one heart and soul, Hindústán is yours. I place my trust in God. If we fail in this, you, whose homes are at a distance of 500 kos, will not be able to find an asylum."
10.11
All the nobles placed their heads at the foot of the throne, and said, "If it please the Most High, we will not be found wanting in the performance of our duty as long so we have breath in our bodies." After this they said to Ahmad Beg, the madman, who was unequalled throughout the world in foretelling the future by what he saw in the blade-bone of a sheep, "Tell us by means of your art who will gain the victory." After feasting and eating he tried his art, and then, being filled with joy and gladness, said, "The victory is on our side, but one chief of rank will obtain martyrdom during the fight." At length, after two or three days, Himun, having made ready for action, came out into the plain, and seated himself in a howda on an elephant, in order that he might be able to overlook and superintend his troops. He also caused the golden standards to be displayed. Bairam Khan also drew up the people of Chaghatai to the right and left in battle array. Shah Badagh Khan and Shah Abu-l Ma'ali, with 6000, passed to the left of Panipat, and came to the rear of the armies. Bairam Khan placed Akbar Mirza's own private tent in an elevated position, and left 3000 horse to guard him. He then placed his reliance in Him in whose hands all human affairs are, and on whom victory depends, and turned his attention to the battle.
10.12
Himun was excessively arrogant on account of his troops and elephants. He advanced, fought, and routed the Mughals, whose heads lay in heaps, and whose blood flowed in streams. He thus at first vanquished the Mughal army; but as the brilliancy of the star of Prince Akbar's fortune was not destined to be diminished, it chanced that, by the decree of the Almighty, an arrow struck Himun in the forehead. He told his elephant driver to take the elephant out of the field of battle. When the Afghans saw that the animal was retreating, they believed that Himun was flying; but on approaching him they saw how matters stood, and as no benefit is ever derived from disloyalty he sustained a complete defeat. Shah Abu-l Ma'ali, however, one of the chief nobles, obtained martyrdom on that day. When Shah Kuli Beg was told of what had occurred, he came up to the elephant, and brought it into the presence of Bairam Khan. Bairam Khan, after prostrating himself, and returning thanks, caused Himun to descend from the elephant, after which he bound his hands, and took him before the young and fortunate Prince and said, "As this is our first success, let Your Highness's own august hand smite this infidel with the sword." The Prince, accordingly, struck him, and divided his head from his unclean body (Nov. 5, a.d. 1556).
10.13
(Muhammad Sháh 'Ádil was slain in the year 964 a.h., in an action with Khizr Khán, the son of Muhammad Khán Gauria. His body, which was not yet quite dead, was, at his conqueror's command, fastened to the foot of an elephant, and dragged about. His miserable reign lasted about three years.)