The History of Shēr Shāh (Tārīkh-i Shērshāhī) 3.9
Táríkh-i Sher Sháhí of 'Abbás Khán Sarwání (extracts) 3.9
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3.9.1
After this was agreed upon, Sher Khán drew out, as described above, a picked force, and explained to them that they were to act as had been determined; and the rest of his force he drew up behind the shelter of the rising ground. When the army of Ibráhím Khán was descried, the horsemen, according to their instructions, coming up to the Bengali army, discharged one volley of arrows, and then turned about. The Bengálí cavalry, supposing the Afghans were flying, broke their ranks, just as Sher Khán had anticipated, and pursued the Afghans. Accordingly, as soon as Sher Khán perceived that the Bengali cavalry had advanced, and left their infantry and artillery in the rear, he appeared at the head of his force which had been lying in ambuscade, and advanced. The Bengalis were panic-struck, and the Afghans who had fled returned, and, joining the rest, they all stirrup to stirrup, after the manner of the Afgháns, fell upon the hostile array. The Bengalis, however, rallied, and stood their ground, and the two armies became closely engaged. After warriors of note had fallen in the contest, the sun of victory rose in favour of Sher Khán from the horizon of the East, and the Bengali army was defeated. Ibráhím Khán exerted himself much, and said to the Bengalis, "Turn and exert yourselves, for the army of the Afghans is small. What face can we show to the king?" But it was no use. * * * Ibráhím Khán again said to his men: "What face can I show to the king?
3.9.2
* * * I will either be victorious or die." He exerted himself much; but as his (term of) life had arrived, he was killed.
3.9.3
Jalál Khán fled to the King of Bengal. The whole of the treasure, elephants, and train of artillery (top-khana) fell into the hands of Sher Khan, who was thus supplied with munitions of war, and became master of the kingdom of Bihar, and of much other territory beside. Since God, the most holy and omnipotent, had pre-ordained from all eternity to give the kingdom of Hind to Sher Khan, and that the people of the Lord should live in ease and comfort under the shadow of his justice, and that he should be a zealous and just ruler, his wealth daily increased, and the whole country gradually came into his possession. He employed himself in the improvement of his provinces, so that, in a short time, they much surpassed their previous condition, and reached to perfection;—for this reason, that he personally superintended every business; nor did he show favour to any oppressor, even though of his own relations or dependents; and if any one entered his service, he said to him from the first: "The stipend and maintenance which I may agree to give you, I will pay you in full, and not diminish them a single fulus; but you shall not oppress or quarrel with any one. If you do, I will visit you with such a punishment as shall be an example to others." In a short season he acquired a good reputation among the people of God, and it was everywhere known that Sher Khan paid his troops regularly, and neither oppressed any one himself, nor suffered others to do so.
3.9.4
I, the author of this history of Sher Khan, 'Abbas Khan bin Shaikh 'Ali Sarwani, have heard from my kindred and connexions, who were great nobles and companions of Sher Khan, that he got possession of the fort of Chunar in the following manner. Sultan Ibrahim Lodi had entrusted the fort of Chunar to Taj Khan Sarang-khani, and the royal treasures were deposited in the fort. Now this Taj Khan was altogether a slave to his love for his wife Lad Malika, who was a woman of great sagacity and wisdom; and Taj Khan had made three Turkoman brothers his lieutenants, by name Mir Ahmad, Is'hak, and Mir Dad; they were own brothers, experienced, talented, and wise men. As they perceived that Taj Khan was completely under the control of his wife, they of course ingratiated themselves with her, and promised and swore to Lád Malika that they would not oppose her, and would be faithful to her. Lád Malika had no sons, but Táj Khán had several sons by other wives. On account of his affection for Lád Malika, he did not give a fitting maintenance to his sons, and their mothers did not even receive a sufficiency of daily food. Although the sons often remonstrated, it was of no avail. Hence they continually laid up the seeds of enmity and hate against Lád Malika. One night Táj Khán's eldest son wounded Lád Malika with a sabre, but not severely. Her servants complained to Táj Khán, who drew his sword, and ran out to kill his son.
3.9.5
He perceiving that his father was about to kill him for the sake of his wife, struck his father with his sabre, and escaped out of the house. Táj Khán died of the wound. The sons of Táj Khán, although but young, were on bad terms with the greater part of his troops; but Lád Malika, being a clever woman, by the liberality and benevolence of her conduct, had ingratiated herself with them during Táj Khán's lifetime, and after his death also they adhered to her. A few ill-disposed persons adhered to Táj Khán's sons; but they daily quarrelled, and disputed among themselves over the treasure, and showed themselves so incapable, that their followers became disgusted with them. Sher Khán therefore sent secretly to Mír Ahmad, saying, "Send Mír Dád to me, for I have a message for you which I will send through him." Mír Ahmad sent Mír Dád to Sher Khán, who said to him, "Tell Mír Ahmad that I am ready to confer great benefits on him." Mír Ahmad, when he heard this, said to his brothers, "Lád Malika possesses talent for government, yet she is but a woman; and there are many who covet the fort and the treasure in it. Lád Malika will not be able to hold the fort, therefore it is best that I should surrender the fort to Sher Khán, and so lay him under an obligation to myself;
3.9.6
it will be to our advantage." The brothers approved of Mír Ahmad's counsel, and went to Lád Malika, and showing to her Sher Khan's letters, said, "We obey you, whatever you order us that we will do." She replied, "You are to me as father and brothers; do what you like, I will agree to whatever you say." They said, "If you will not be angry we will say what we consider to be most to your advantage." She replied, "Fear not; speak without hesitation the purpose you entertain." Mir Ahmad said, "Even if there should be no disturbance in the fort, still you would be unable to hold it, for you are a woman and have no sons, and there are many persons who seek to gain possession of it. It is a royal possession, and until some one assumes the sovereignty, it will be best to give the fort over to Sher Khan. You shall marry him, and thus find an asylum, and so no one shall deprive you of the fort and royal treasures." Lad Malika said, "Send your brother Mir Dad to Sher Khan in order to arrange with him that I shall give up the fort; but on one condition, that he shall deprive of his ears and nose that miserable son who murdered his father, that he may be a warning to others." When Mir Dad came to Sher Khan, he made him agree that he would not hurt or injure Lad Malika or the mother of the three brothers.
3.9.7
Sher Khan received him with all honour and hospitality, and using every endeavour to assure him, and making the utmost protestations of friendship and good feeling, said, "If Lad Malika gives me up the fort and will marry me, I shall be for ever indebted to your kindness." And Sher Khan thus having employed himself in captivating the bud of his heart by kindness, Mir Dad said, "It is not fit to surrender the fort except to the king; but since I have come to you, you have shown me such kindness and goodwill, and have displayed such hospitality, that I have considered nothing but how, in return for this, to get the fort into your power. I will not fail to use my best exertions to this end. My hope in God is, that Lad Malika will not dissent from what I say; but when the business is performed to your heart's content, do not so act as to disgrace me." Sher Khan swearing everything he wished, assured him and said, "While I live I will never cause you grief. * * * Mir Dad recommended that they should start at once, and Sher Khan mounting with all haste set off. Mir Dad went on before and gave intelligence that Sher Khan was coming, and urged them not to delay giving up the fort, and got Lad Malika and his brothers to consent. So Mir Dad was sent back to bring in Sher Khan quickly, and to take possession of the fort before the sons of Taj Khan should be aware of their designs.