[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) › 347.1 # Storia do Mogor 347.1 Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 347.1 - **Language:** English ### [347.1.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.347.1.1) 'I state, being the meanest among your Majesty's sons, I, Akbar, in reverent obeisance and humility and respect, that I have received your Majesty's letter. A thousand times do I give thanks for the honours, kindnesses, and favours that your Majesty metes out to me. Thereby have I received great joy and much consolation. The letter arrived at an auspicious moment, and I took it with all the humbleness and obedient duty that is owing to your Majesty's high dignity. Its mere receipt has brought me comfort. I am now informed as to your orders, and continue to be very joyful at seeing and reading again and again all \[43\] that your pen has condescended to write to me, and the instruction thereby imparted. I reply on all the heads, which I record with brevity, as is fitting for one who adheres to truth and justice. ### [347.1.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.347.1.2) 'Your Majesty writes to me that you love me, although I became disobedient, and was deprived of rank and dignity because I had placed myself in prison \[among the Rajputs\]. My lord, just as the son ought to be the obedient servant of his father who has conceived him, and ought to follow rightful orders as his father dictates, so must a father give reasonable commands in order that the son may find himself under a necessity to obey. Thanks be to God! I have not been wanting in due respect and reverence, nor in any way have I failed in my obedience as a son. I acknowledge the great grace and favour of your Majesty; so grateful am I that I cannot display it sufficiently. In fact, of all that you promise me, were there only to be granted a small fraction, or even of that small fraction only the minutest particle, I should rest content. ### [347.1.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.347.1.3) 'As it seems to me, since I was the youngest you ought to have shown me love and done me favour greater than that accorded to your other sons. However, I do not live devoid of hope, knowing you to be a tender-hearted father. Your Majesty has acted against the world's rule. You favoured your other sons; me you outraged. To your eldest son you conceded the title of king, and in \[44\] addition have declared him heir to the throne. In what system of justice or from what tribunal was there ever such a decision heard of? All the sons ought to share in the paternal estate. Your Majesty, to the very contrary of this, has raised one to greatness, has enriched another and overweighted him with titles, while the others are forsaken and in poverty. But where is the code and system in which such things can be discovered? O veritable king of truth, in thy equity all are equal! His mode of conduct is clear, and notified to all the world, and His works are registered in His scriptures. God will assign greatness to him who the most pleases Him. ### [347.1.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.347.1.4) 'Your Majesty was my teacher, who showed me the road I had to tread, and your example was imitated and followed by all others. And who is he who can decry my acts, when I followed the road that my father had taught me to go? Our first father, Adam, forfeited the favour of Heaven for two grains of wheat, while I have been sent to perdition for one grain alone. But I should be a fool if I did not know how to sell it profitably. Men, such as the great Taimur-i-lang and \[45\] King Shãhjahãn, went through and endured great labours, and to the end continued to be powerful and happy. He who refuses to undergo hardships can never become great or obtain the favour of Heaven or live in prosperity. Flowers do not exist without thorns, nor mountains without serpents.' \[Here follow two verses to this effect:\] ### [347.1.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.347.1.5) 'If Fortune means to favour me, A sharp sword will not wound me.' ' As is usual, fatigue is followed by repose; therefore I hope by the grace of God to be thus favoured, and freed from the hardships and troubles that at present I am suffering. In regard to your remark about Jaswant, who was the greatest of the Rajputs and a friend of Dãrã, as all the world knows, you advise me not to trust such people. To this I reply that your Majesty says well; but your Highness should be careful to speak no further thereof. For it is quite certain that Dãrã was not loved by that tribe; he was their enemy. Had he retained their friendship he would not have been defeated. King Shãhjahãn was fond of that tribe, being (as he was) related to them, and by their weapons \[46\] made himself King of Hindustan. ### [347.1.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.347.1.6) ' By the help of these people the great Mahãbat Khãn made a prisoner of King Jahãnglr, and chastised his enemies. Let your Majesty remember what Rajputs, men of this tribe, have done in your very presence at the Court of Dihll. They fought with such bravery that their deeds have been entered in the world's chronicles. In ancient story no record of equal valour can be anywhere discovered. Jaswant was the man who in the battle against Shãh Shujã was guilty of such a defect that he merited to be rigorously punished instead of being pardoned. Yet your Majesty passed this over because you not only knew the man, but feared him. It is he who, being corrupted and deceived by your Majesty's pretences and magic arts, omitted to espouse the cause of Dãrã. If he had taken that side your Majesty would not at this day be reigning; for it was he (Jaswant) who won you the victory. 'Who can doubt that these Rajputs deserve to be praised for their fidelity? This right they earned when, although deprived of their chieftain, they took the little children of the deceased rajah under their charge, and fighting desperately, offered up their lives. Three hundred of their \[47\] horsemen held out for twelve hours continuously against all the forces at your court, killing many famed and veteran warriors, finally retreating in safety. They are, then, worthy of praise, this tribe, as much for their fidelity as for their valour. ### [347.1.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.347.1.7) ' When the kings of Hindustan, its princes and potentates, or generals, desired to enrol soldiers, for each one whom they required a hundred offered themselves. At the present it takes you three years to recruit a few men. From what does this difficulty proceed, and what fact could tell you more? Yet from the first day in your Majesty's reign all are actors, and generals, but none have any loyalty: the perished and unprovided with arms, famous writers produce nothing and have no employment, the traders or deprived of their goods, and the people The lands of the Dakhin, which are so vast, and like a terrestrial Paradise, are nowadays uncultivated, unproductive, and uninhabited. 'What can I say about the kingdom of Bījāpur, once the of India, and now entirely undone? The city of Aurangābād, founded by your Majesty, and the chief place in that province, \[48\] was devastated by the enemy because it bore your name, and is now like a little quicksilver that disappears suddenly, being at this day no more than a mound of earth. The cause of this ruin was the tax imposed on the Hindus, which was converted into a profit to the enemy, who have done so much harm to the population, and subjected them to such hardships and tyrannies, worrying them on all sides, until the whole land has been reduced to desolation. ### [347.1.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.347.1.8) 'Upon what subject can I say anything good of your Majesty? The ancient and noble families are all extinct. The government, the rules, the counsels and advice needed for the welfare of the State, are all in the hands of low, ill-bred persons, such as weavers, washermen, barbers, carpenters, blacksmiths, tailors, and such-like. Your Majesty puts your trust in hypocrites wearing huge turbans, and accepted as theologians because they carry a Quran under the arm and hold a chaplet in their hand. Yet are these men nothing but snares of Hell, with their hypocritical exterior of piety. They give false counsel, and by their appearance mislead the world. From this class of riffraff your Majesty has selected your privy councillors and courtiers. These are your guardian angels, Gabriel, Michael the Angel, Raphael, and Michael the Archangel, men who are dealers in adulterated wares. In public audience \[49\] they produce a feather or a straw, which to your Majesty they can make appear as a mighty mountain.' To this discourse are added some verses, of which the sense is as follows : ### [347.1.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.347.1.9) 'In Aurangzeb's reign the vile and low are favoured ; They pass by in mighty state and arrogance, These are his companions and counsellors ; they govern all : The noble and learned are undone, he uses not such, they have no place at his court. The whole world wonders at seeing such misrule ; Behold to what condition we are reduced ! Asses plant kicks on noble horses, great men ride in fear. Not a soul pays any attention to the King's orders ; The officials trade, buying and selling offices at court ; To-day, when done eating, they break their salt-cellar and pay him with ingratitude.' --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.347.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.347.1) · Pramāṇa