Tarikh-i Salatin-i Afaghina 2: Sultan Bahlol's expedition against the Rana, and against Ahmad Khan Bhatti.
Táríkh-i Salátín-i Afághana of Ahmad Yádgár (extracts) 2
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Sultan Bahlol's expedition against the Rana, and against Ahmad Khan Bhatti.
2.1
Some time after, Sultan Bahlol marched out against the Rana, and pitched his camp at Ajmir, where he collected a powerful force. Chattar Sal, son of the Rana's sister, was at Udipur with 10,000 cavalry. Kutb Khan advanced towards that place, and fought an action with the rascally infidel. At first, the Sultan's army was repulsed by the impetuous onset of the infidels, and several Afghans obtained martyrdom in that contest ; but, in the end, Kutb Khán and Khán-khánán Farraulí, determining to sell their lives dearly, advanced to close combat with swords and daggers, and so completely routed their black-faced foes, that Chhattar Sál was slain in the field ; and so many infidels fell, that a pillar was raised of their heads, and streams of their blood began to flow. Five or six elephants, forty horses, and much plunder fell into the hands of the Sultán's soldiers, while those of the Ráná took to flight. Subsequently, the Ráná made peace, and in Uldpúr prayers were offered and the coin was struck in the name of the Sultán. After that, the Sultán carried his victorious army into Munkhár. He plundered and depopulated that entire country, and the army acquired great booty. Thence he returned to Sirhind, and after two or three months, advanced with his troops towards Lahore, where he passed some days in festivities.
2.2
At that time, Ahmad Khán B闪atti, who had acquired great power in the country of Sind, and had 20,000 cavalry under him, had revolted against the Governor of Multán ; whose petition arrived, representing that Ahmad Khán was plundering the villages of Multán, and that if the Lord of the World would not come to the rescue, he himself would not be able to hold his own in Multán ; and that after the loss of Multán, the Panjáb would be exposed to ravage. The Sultán, vexed at this intelligence, appointed 'Umar Khán, one of his chief nobles, and Prince Báyazíd, to command an expedition against Ahmad Khán, at the head of 30,000 valiant horsemen. After taking leave of the Sultán in all honour, they moved by continued marches from Lahore till they reached Multán, where they were joined by the Governor, who acted as their guide till they reached the enemy's country.
2.3
Ahmad Khán, proud in the strength and courage of his army, disregarded the Imperialists, and, not thinking it worth his while to move, sent his nephew, at the head of 15,000 cavalry, to oppose them. That youth was desperately enamoured of a strumpet, who was indeed surpassingly beautiful, and he never moved out on any excursion of pleasure or hunting without being accompanied by her ; and, even on the day of battle, he seated her in an 'amári, mounted on an elephant, and carried her with him. Naurang Khán, for that was his name, detached Daúd Khán with 10,000 cavalry against the Imperialists, and the two parties charged each other with such impetuosity that rivers of blood began to flow. In the end, Dáúd Khán was slain, and his troops defeated. When those who had fled from the field informed Naurang Khán of the disaster, he took leave in sorrow of his mistress, and arrived on the field of battle, where he displayed such valour and desperation that he clove several men of the Sultán's army in twain, and felled them from their horses. At last, a ball from a camel-gun cut him also in half, and killed him.
2.4
When the news of Naurang Khán's fate reached his mistress, she, being endowed with a masculine mind, put on a suit of armour, bound round her waist a gilt quiver, and placing a helmet on her head, joined the army of Naurang Khán. Upon consultation with his brother, she recommended that he should send all the troops to pay their respects to her, and should give out that the prince, the son of Ahmad Khán, had arrived, in order that the enemy might be distracted, and not entertain the persuasion that they had really killed the commander of their enemy's troops. Accordingly, all the cavalry dismounted, and made their obeisances, while the kettle-drums resounded with loud notes of joy. The Imperialists, notwithstanding their victory, were perplexed, and in the midst of their doubts, were suddenly attacked so furiously by Ahmad Khán's army, that they were put to flight. Ahmad Khán, when he heard of the victory of his army and the salutary aid afforded by that woman, was astounded with joy ; and when he saw her arrive, decked in martial array, he praised her valour and conduct, and bestowed jewels upon her to the value of 10,000 rupees.
2.5
On the other hand, Prince Bayazid, after punishing the men who fled from the field of battle, sent for another army, and two or three great nobles were despatched to his assistance with large reinforcements. When these had all joined, they made an inroad upon Ahmad Khan's territory, and he, after many battles, was at last taken prisoner and put to death, while his country was sequestered and included in the Imperial domain. Bayazid returned victorious to the court of Sultan Bahlol, by whom he was received with royal benignity.