Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 2.4.4

2.4.4

Whatever were his motives, he resolved to send an army towards the Decan under the Emir's command. Dara had incurred his father's displeasure by his recent and undisguised attempts to become paramount in power and authority : but there was one act of his which Chah-Jehan regarded with peculiar horror and indignation, and which he was least disposed to forgive, — the murder of Vizier Sadullah-Kan, a nobleman whom the Mogol considered the most accomplished statesman of Asia, and for whom he felt a warmth of friendship that became quite proverbial. What was the offence which Dara judged worthy of death is not ascertained. Perhaps he apprehended that in the event of the King's demise, the powerful ascendency of the Vizier might leave the crown at his disposal, and that he would place it on the head of Sultan Sujah, whose party he seemed to favour : or it is possible Dara may have been influenced by the reports promulgated respecting the intentions of Sadullah-Kan, who, from being an Indian [Hindoo] by birth, had excited the jealousy of the Persians at court. One of these rumours was, that after the death of Chah-Jehan, the Vizier designed to exclude the Mogols from the throne, and either to restore the royal race of the Patans, or usurp the crown for himself or his son. His wife was a Patan; and it was pretended that he kept a well-appointed army of that people, cantoned in various parts, to aid him in accomplishing his project.