Travels in the Mogul Empire (Bernier) 2.9.7

2.9.7

It was not long before Dara was made acquainted with the serious loss he had sustained; and hearing also that Morad-Bakche was hemmed in by the Rajpous, rendered furious by the death of their master, he determined, notwithstanding every obstacle, to advance to the attack of that Prince; the only measure by which he could hope to repair the error committed in suffering Aureng-Zebe to escape: but even this step was rendered abortive by an act of treachery, which involved Dara in immediate and irretrievable ruin. Calil-ullah-Kan, who commanded the right wing, consisting of thirty thousand Mogols, a force which alone was sufficient to destroy Aureng-Zebe's army, kept aloof from the engagement, while Dara, at the head of the left wing, fought with courage and success. The traitor pretended that his division was designed for a corps of reserve, and that he could not, consistently with his orders, move one step, or discharge a single arrow, until the last extremity: but the blackest perfidy was the cause of his inaction. Some years prior to this period, Calil-ullah had suffered the indignity of having been shoebeaten at the hands of Dara, and he considered the hour arrived when he might gratify the resentment which had never ceased to rankle in his bosom. His abstinence from all share in the battle did not, however, produce the mischief intended, Dara having proved victorious without the co-operation of the right wing. The traitor, therefore, had recourse to another expedient.