[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate) › [Tuḥfa-yi Akbarshāhī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi) › [Tarikh-i Sher Shahi of 'Abbas Khan Sarwani (extracts)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot) › 3.8 # The History of Shēr Shāh (Tārīkh-i Shērshāhī) 3.8 Táríkh-i Sher Sháhí of 'Abbás Khán Sarwání (extracts) 3.8 - **Language:** English ### [3.8.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.8.1) When Jalál Khán was informed of this representation, he said to Sher Khán's vakíl : " Tell Sher Khán that he has right on his side. \* \* \* Let him wait a little, for I have powerful enemies : this sedition must be repressed by degrees. I will distinguish the truth from what is false." When Sher Khán was informed of the reply to his letters, he again sent his vakíl to Jalál Khán's presence to say, "What Your Majesty has said is true. \* \* \* Whatever you do, I will obey you ; nor will I transgress your orders. After this, Jalál Khán sent for the Lohánís who sought to kill Sher Khán, and showed them Sher Khán's letters, and said : " Certain of the Lohánís who were aware of your designs went to Sher Khán and informed him, and have joined themselves to him, and they have sworn and vowed, whatever good or ill betide, never to separate from each other. What is to be done ? " The Lohánís who sided with Jalál Khán replied: "We did not in the least care that Sher Khán has become acquainted with our designs; but it has fallen out ill that so large a number of our brethren should have sided with him, and that disunion should have fallen on the tribe of Lohanis. \* \* \* Do you send Sher Khan to his Jágírs, and station him there; ### [3.8.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.8.2) and do you, with a cheerful and confident mind, go to the King of Bengal, and getting a Jágír for yourself in Bengal, make over the kingdom of Bihár to him as a present, before any one else has attempted to seize it." The advice of the Lohanis pleased Jalal Khan, who, instantly sending for Sher Khán, said: "The Lohánis, who, on account of your loyalty to me, bear enmity against you, will, please God, receive their deserts and punishment. Do you remain to oppose the Mughals, and also administer the affairs of the kingdom. I will go to attack the King of Bengal." Sher Khan assented, and Jalal Khán, bestowing a horse and dress of honour upon him, sent him off at once. When Sher Khán had reached his Jágír at Sahsarám, Jalal Khan went over to the King of Bengal, who attached to his person a division of the army under Ibráhím Khan, son of Kutb Sháh. As soon as Sher Khan heard that Jalál Khan had gone over to the King of Bengal, he was much pleased, and said: "Now the kingdom of Bihar has fallen into my hands. I felt certain that the army of the King of Bengal would assuredly come to attempt the conquest of Bihar, and as enmity existed in the army of Jalal Khán between the Lohanis and myself, I feared lest the enemy should be victorious, for the surest means of defeat are divisions in your own army. Now that the Lohanis are gone to Bengal, there are no quarrels in my army, and if there be no divisions among the Afghans, how can the Bengal army compare with them in the day of battle? ### [3.8.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.8.3) Even the Mughals cannot equal them. Please God, when I have dispersed the Bengal army, you will soon see, if I survive, how I will expel the Mughals from Hindustan." After this, Sher Khán began to strengthen himself, and enlist more men. Wherever there were any Afgháns he sent to them, and gave them any money they asked. Having collected a very large force, and made every preparation, and having gained the good will of his whole army, he placed the country of Bihár in his rear, and proceeded against the army of the King of Bengal, fortifying his position with an earthen circumvallation. ### [3.8.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.8.4) The King of Bengal had appointed Ibrahim Khán the leader of his army, and despatched him to conquer the kingdom of Bihár. Ibrahim Khán had under him a large Bengal army, and many elephants, and a park of artillery (átish-bází). In the excess of his pride he altogether despised the array of Sher Khan. Sher Khan, keeping under the shelter of his entrenchments, skirmished every day; and in spite of all their endeavours, the army of Ibrahim could not inflict any injury on his forces, on account of the earthen embankments. The Afgháns behaved with great gallantry, and repelled the endeavours of Ibrahim Khán's army to penetrate their entrenchments. Every time the latter attacked, they were compelled to return unsuccessful; but neither army gained any solid advantage over the other. Ibrahim Khán, who was very confident in the prowess of the Bengalis, thought that in the day of battle the Afghans would be no match for them; whereas it was only from his superior numbers, his elephants, and his artillery, that he had up to that time maintained his ground against them: so he wrote to his sovereign to request reinforcements, saying that Sher Khán had taken up a fortified position, and that he was unable to dislodge him with his present force. ### [3.8.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.8.5) When Sher Khán heard that Ibráhím Khán had sent for reinforcements, he called his Afghans together and said: "I have for some time abstained from meeting the Bengalis in the open field, and have kept myself sheltered under entrenchments, and I have brought out only a few men to fight with them, and for this reason, lest they should be discouraged by the large numbers of the enemy. Now I am convinced that the Bengalis are much inferior to the Afghans in war. I have remained within entrenchments for some time without any general engagement, in order that the comparative prowess of the two nations might be manifested, and the presumption of the Bengalis be abated, while the Afghans might be no longer discouraged by the disparity of forces. I will now engage in open battle, for without a general engagement we cannot destroy and disperse our enemies. Praise be to God! whenever such an engagement occurs between Afghans and Bengalis, the Afghans must prevail. It is impossible that the Bengalis can stand against them. At present this is my purpose. To-morrow morning, if you concur with me, hoping in the mercy of the Protector, and trusting on this text, 'By God's command the lesser number overcomes the greater,' I will engage the enemy in open battle, for it behoves us not to delay or be backward in this matter, as reinforcements will soon reach them." The Afghans replied: "That which your noble mind has determined is extremely right." \* \* \* ### [3.8.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.8.6) When Sher Khán saw the Afghans were in good heart to engage the Bengalis, and that Ibráhím Khán was daily pondering how much longer Sher Khán would yet remain in his entrenchments, and was anxious for an engagement, as he so presumed on the number of his forces that he had encamped them all round Sher Khán's entrenchment, and had not thrown up any works to protect them, he determined to give him battle; and to send his vakíl to tell Ibráhím Khán that it behoved him to be prepared the following morning, as he intended to come out of his entrenchments for that purpose. When Sher Khán told the message to his friends, it pleased them, and he sent his vakil to Ibrahim Khan, saying, "You have often said to me, 'Come out of your entrenchments, and let us meet in battle on the open field that we may test each other's prowess.' I have purposely remained patiently in my entrenchments for a time, hoping that peace might be concluded with you; but if you will agree to no peace, to-morrow morning put your army in array and come out, so that we may meet in open battle." Ibrahim Khan replied to the vakil, "Say to Sher Khan, 'Have all your forces present on the field of battle early to-morrow morning.'" When Sher Khan heard this reply, he was much delighted, and told the intelligence to his men. Ibrahim Khan also told Fath Khan to give orders that his men should be ready and present on the morrow. ### [3.8.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.8.7) When one watch of the night was yet remaining, Sher Khan arrayed his forces, and brought them out of their entrenchments; and after the morning prayers, he himself came out, and said to his chiefs, "In the enemy's army there are many elephants and guns, and a great force of infantry; we must fight them in such a manner that they shall not be able to preserve their original order." The Bengali cavalry should be drawn away from their guns and infantry, and the horses intermingled with the elephants, so that their array may be disordered. I have thought of a stratagem by which to defeat the Bengalis. I will draw up the greater part of my forces behind the cover of that height which we see, but will retain for the attack a small number of experienced and veteran horse. Now, they will fight exactly in the same manner as they did on the former occasion, without any expectation of defeat. I will bring up my selected division, who, after discharging one flight of arrows into the Bengali army, shall retreat. Ibrahim Khan still bears in mind the old feud regarding the death of his father, and is presumptuous on account of his superior force. He will think the Afghans are beginning to fly; and, becoming eager, he will leave his artillery and foot in the rear, and press on with all expedition himself, and disorder and confusion will find their way into his order of battle, I will then bring out my force which had been concealed behind the eminence, who will attack the enemy. ### [3.8.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.8.8) The Bengali cavalry, deprived of the support of their artillery and infantry, are by themselves unable to cope with the Afghan horse. I hope, by the favour of God, that their force will be routed and put to flight." All the Afghans expressed their approbation of Sher Khán's plan of battle, and were much delighted, and observed there could be no better possible scheme devised. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.sultanate.tarikh-i-shershahi~en-elliot.3.8) · Pramāṇa