Storia do Mogor 65.22.1

65.22.1

The traitors had made an agreement with Aurangzeb that when he was ready to give battle he should warn them by three discharges of cannon, and thereupon they would make dispositions for delivering Dara into his hands. Meanwhile Aurangzeb gave proof of how he understood recompensing those who helped him in his unjust undertaking. He caused his friend Champat to be sent for, who was waiting not far from his tents, in expectation of the many favours and presents promised to him. When he reached the presence, having no anticipation of what was about to happen to him, Aurangzeb instantly caused him to be bound and carried to the route along which he designed to advance next morning to give battle; there he was to be offered up a sacrificial victim, and beheaded. This command was executed. On the 2nd of June (1658) Dara received a letter from his father Shahjahan, directing his retreat to Agrah, there to entrench himself until the arrival of Sulaiman Shukoh. This could not be done, because if Dara retreated, the enemy would without fail resume his advance with still greater spirit, while our troops would lose all confidence in the valour of their prince and commander. They would imagine if he retired that he had not the courage to attack. The greater part of our army directly they saw such a movement would inevitably transfer themselves to the enemy's side.