[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) › 195 # Storia do Mogor 195: Aurangzeb removes the Eyes of Shahab-ud-din Khan. Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 195 - **Language:** English ### Aurangzeb removes the Eyes of Shahab-ud-din Khan. ### [195.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.195.1) This was the time at which Aurangzeb, seeing Sambha Ji was dead and the princes delivered into his hands, imagined he no longer needed his generals. Therefore he sent for the great Shahab-ud-din Khan, who was away elsewhere on a campaign against Shiva Ji. But this general, who now found himself great, rich, and beloved by all the soldiers and captains, answered that his presence was necessary for the reduction of a fortress called Aduni. Aurangzeb was afraid that this general meant to attempt some plot, and after two or three letters recalling him to court, finding he made excuses, he sent him one more letter directing him to return absolutely. On reading the said letter, this famous general's eyes began to drop blood, whereby he became blind. Nor were the remedies of any avail that were sent him by the selfsame Aurangzeb to be applied to his eyes; for he had found by this time that he wanted him, since Shiva Ji (i.e., the Mahrattahs) had deceived him in the matter of Parnalagarh, which he had reckoned on getting. His repentance was somewhat tardy, for already the general had become blind, remaining so to the end of his life, and he could not, for want of sight, continue his deeds of valour and good judgment. ### [195.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.195.2) It is fitting for me to say here that I know no one who can boast of having attained to perfect trust in the administration of Aurangzeb, unless it be Asad Khan, he who was faithful to Shahjahan, and is a loyal minister to this same Aurangzeb. Up to this day he prospers; but we can only judge finally after his death. This noble will indeed be a phoenix in the reign of Aurangzeb, whose renown others may recount hereafter, if he ends his life felicitously \[249\]. As Aurangzeb wanted to catch the lion's whelp before he grew up, he sent an army into the Choromandal Karnatik to prevent Shiva Ji's \[i.e., Ram Raja's\] departure from Jinji. He hoped to destroy him within that great fortress. For this purpose he sent Julfecercan (Zu,lfiqar Khan), son of Asad Khan, and other commanders; but Shiva Ji being well provisioned, Zu,lfiqar Khan could not accomplish his task. In writing his report to the king, he stated the necessity of reinforcements; therefore Aurangzeb sent his youngest son Kaembacx (Kam Bakhsh) to command, accompanied by Asad Khan himself. ### [195.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.195.3) The fortress was already about to surrender. But if the war were ended many soldiers would fall out of employ, and their officers be without income; so they managed to make it appear that Kam Bakhsh was in correspondence with Shiva Ji (Ram Raja), and meant to forsake his father and desert to the Mahrattahs. Two days before the fortress was to be made over Asad Khan carried off Kam Bakhsh a prisoner to Aurangzeb. The latter imagined it to be true that his son meant to rebel, and was much concerned. But as he (Kam Bakhsh) was his youngest, and son of his beloved Udepuri, he showed no resentment. At this fact the reader may well be astonished, knowing from the course of my history how Aurangzeb forgave no one who attempted to oppose his designs. ### [195.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.195.4) Meanwhile Zu,lfiqar Khan continues until this day in the Karnatik as viceroy, without having reduced the fortress of Jinji. This went on until Aurangzeb, angry at seeing that in eight years he could not take this strong place, wrote him repeated letters, when he so conducted matters that Shiva Ji (Ram Raja) was able to escape. If the generals had obeyed the king's orders, there can be no doubt that the campaign would be already over. With the great treasures he had and the large army he kept on foot, Aurangzeb could have made much greater conquests. For in spite of Shiva Ji (Ram Raja) being at this day stronger than his father (Sambha Ji), it would be quite easy to destroy him. But this suits neither the interests of the officers nor the purposes of Aurangzeb's sons. These latter know they will have to struggle with their brothers for the crown by force of arms, and they do not wish to get rid of that prince (Ram Raja), hoping at the proper time to be able to carry out their plots. Among those who want to preserve Shiva Ji (Ram Raja), it is of certain knowledge that A'zam Tara must be counted as the principal, and it may well happen that before this my book is laid before the eyes of the learned, I may be able to record the end of this war, and the disappearance of Aurangzeb. ### [195.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.195.5) My third book (? Part) will explain the way in which the generals and commanders behave in Hindustan. They aim only at their personal advantage, and ordinarily make no account of the royal commands, except only when it is necessary in order not to be expressly found out as traitors. But let us leave this subject for another time, and go on with the continuation of the war waged by Aurangzeb against Shiva Ji (Ram Raja), leaving Zu,lfiqar Khan behind in this Karnatik to continue the contest with Shiva Ji and back up him (Aurangzeb) in these parts. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.195](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.195) · Pramāṇa