[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Storia do Mogor](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci) › [Storia do Mogor (Irvine)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine) › 117 # Storia do Mogor 117: Death of Shahjahan. Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 117 - **Language:** English ### Death of Shahjahan. ### [117.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.117.1) While Rajah Jai Singh was halted in Brampur (Burhanpur) awaiting the army which was following us, he received the news of Shahjahan's death, which happened in the following manner. Noromgabadi (Aurangabadi), wife of Shahjahan, had two lovely maid-servants, one Aftab, which means 'Sun,' and the other Mahtab—that is to say, 'Moon.' Finding that Shahjahan was attracted by them, she gave them to him for his amusement. One day Shahjahan was in front of a mirror adjusting his moustaches, and these two women were standing behind him. One made a sign to the other, as if mocking the old man who wanted to get himself up as a youth. Shahjahan saw the gesture, and, touched in his reputation, had recourse to drugs to maintain his strength in his accustomed vices. By these his bladder was so weakened that a retention of urine came on. For this no remedy could be found, he being now an old man and much enfeebled. At the same time \[95\] he brought to mind what the faqir with the two apples had said. This was when he was Prince Corrum (Khurram), and was at Juner, in Bijapur territory (I. 119), and it was to the effect that when his death approached he would lose the smell of apples on his hands. Recognising that this had come true, he lost heart about his living longer, and thus came to an end in a short time. ### [117.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.117.2) When I'tibar Khan sent the report to court, Aurangzeb called to mind the subterfuges by which Shahjahan, being then Sultan Khurram, gave out that he was dead, and thereby gained the throne. Might he not have sought a similar method for getting out of prison and recovering the kingdom? Aurangzeb therefore sent a trusty man to pass a heated iron rod over his father's feet, and if the body did not stir, then to pierce the skull down to the throat, to make quite certain that he was really dead. Orders were sent to I'tibar Khan not to allow his burial until the arrival of Aurangzeb in person. He journeyed quickly by river, for it was of great importance to him to be delivered of this uneasiness, and he cloaked his ill-will under the shadow of filial piety, in the hope that the populace would cease to whisper. ### [117.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.117.3) Arrived at Agrah, Aurangzeb put up at the mausoleum of Taj Mahal, and there awaited his father's body. It was not carried out through the palace entrance; through a hole made in the wall they brought it out head first, this being a superstition among the Mogul kings, I know not the reason why. Begam Sahib sent two thousand gold coins to be given to the poor, but the guards seized the whole, saying that prisoners could not give away anything. On the arrival of the corpse at the tomb, Aurangzeb prayed and showed much devoutness, wiping his eyes as if he wept. Thus he found himself arrived at the object of his desires in the year one thousand six hundred and sixty-five (correctly, 1666), that father being now buried whose death he had so long desired, and to shorten whose life he had sought so many expedients. ### [117.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.117.4) At the conclusion of the ceremony Aurangzeb went into the fort, when Begam Sahib came out to meet him. After the usual obeisances she presented to him the letter of pardon that, as she said, she had obtained from Shahjahan, her father, together with the valuable and ancient jewels remaining under his control. This was all the service she could do for her brother, for whom she had wearied herself enough, without much profit, for some time past. Aurangzeb was satisfied \[96\], although he had grounds for suspecting that the said letter was a forgery ; nevertheless, it was enough to justify him with the populace. To those maid-servants and ladies who were not wives of Shahjahan he gave permission to marry freely anyone they pleased. He took Begam Sahib away with him to Dihli, conferring on her the title of Pacha Begam (Badshah Begam) — that is, ' Empress of Princesses.' He allowed her to live in her own mansion, a concession he would not grant to Roshan Ara Begam. Begam Sahib's rank was maintained as before, and her beloved Jani Begam, daughter of Dara, was left with her. The wives of Shahjahan were sent into retirement in the palace for royal widows. ### [117.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.117.5) Here is the place to speak of Shahjahan's elephant called Khaliqdad, as I have promised (II. 7). Hearing a great noise being made in the tomb of Taj Mahal in preparation for the burial of his master, this elephant grew fierce and restless, when the driver who had charge of him came up and said to him, ' Unhappy Khaliqdad ! What will become of thee now that he who was thy master is dead ? What is there for thee now but to die too ? for no one will take the trouble to look after thee !' On hearing these words, the elephant began to gather dust with his trunk and throw it on his head. Then with groans and cries he fell on the ground and died, just as if he recognised his evil destiny, and took his departure as one forsaken. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.117](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.117) · Pramāṇa