Storia do Mogor 65.14.6

65.14.6

At the time when Mu'azzam Khan was investing Kaliyani Shahjahan fell suddenly ill. It was in the year one thousand six hundred and fifty-four, on the 17th November, when the court was at Dihli. I was then in the service of the prince Dara. Shahjahan brought this illness on himself, for being already an old man of sixty-one, he wanted still to enjoy himself like a youth, and with this intent took different stimulating drugs. These brought on a retention of urine for three days, and he was almost at death's door. This illness produced great confusion in the city of Dihli and throughout the empire. When the king saw himself in this plight, he ordered all the gates of the fortress (palace) to be closed up, leaving only two wickets open. Placing no reliance on the Mahomedan commanders, he ordered Rajah Jaswant Singh (Rathor) to post himself at one gate with his men, and the other he made over to Rajah Ram Sing Rotella (Ram Singh). These officers guarded the fortress on all sides with thirty thousand soldiers, all of them Rajputs. Their orders were that only Prince Dara might enter twice a day with a retinue of ten persons. But he was not allowed to sleep within the fortress. Begam Sahib decided to stay inside to look after her father's food; but both she and the other persons left in the fortress were made to swear on the Quran to be faithful to him. He was afraid of being given poison.