[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) › 65.23 # Storia do Mogor 65.23 Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 65.23 - **Language:** English ### [65.23.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.23.1) Orders were given not to discharge the artillery any more, and the well-reputed general, Rustam Khan, was sent for in order to hear what he advised. When the latter heard the views of Khalilullah Khan, he replied that it would be better to await the enemy and leave him to attack us, for he had come a great distance to seek us, and, according to usage, he could not avoid being the attacker. When he came on, we could receive him with the fury and valour befitting the advantage that we had over him. This advice was most prudent, but the cunning Khalilullah Khan turned it into disparagement of Rustam Khan, saying : 'I am greatly amazed that a captain so famous should tell us at such a juncture to show ourselves such cowards and of so little courage, that after we have almost destroyed the enemy, we should yet be afraid to take the offensive.' Dara, without listening to other arguments, adopted the counsels of Khalilullah Khan, and set his elephant in motion in order to attack the enemy with his heavy divisions. Orders were given to Rustam Khan to return to his division, and give evidence of his well-known valour. The artillery was ordered to be unchained to allow the troops to pass through the line. ### [65.23.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.23.2) Khalilullah Khan, pleased at having accomplished his purpose of exposing Dara to the risk of death, went with him halfway, and then returned to his own command, the enemy being still at some distance. On this side, when Dara started with his division against the enemy, everything fell into confusion. The barbers, butchers, and the rest, turned right-about face, abandoning the artillerymen and the guns. Many made for the baggage-train to plunder it, which they did, breaking open the chests of gold and silver, and carrying off what they could lay hands on. This resulted in many men being murdered while trying to rob their companions. Dara pursued his route courageously, making signs with his hands from the top of his elephant that all should hasten to take a part in the victory. To this intent he ordered his drums to beat. I admired Dara's high spirit, and I noticed that the enemy did not stir, contenting himself with a discharge of shells until Dara had come quite close. Then, all of a sudden, the enemy discharged his cannon, musketry, and swivel-pieces, which struck us and frightened numbers of our men, who scattered this way and that. Finding himself in imminent peril, Dara ordered the guns to be dragged forward and the musket-men to advance ; the franquis \[190\] (Europeans) were also to join in the movement. But it was no longer time, for all his men were in disarray, and everyone had taken his own road. ### [65.23.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.23.3) In spite of all this he (Dara) did not lose heart, but waving his hands, made signs to continue the advance. Then Rustam Khan and Chhatar Sal Rae, although they had suffered by the first discharge from the enemy, came up and collected as many fresh men as they could. Dara did the same. Then with such vigour, courage, wrath, and violence did he attack his opponents that he broke through the guns and penetrated to their camp, putting to the rout camels, infantry, and everything that was to be found in that direction. Seeing the boldness of Dara, the enemy then sent as reinforcement a large division led by Secmir (Shekh Mir), teacher of Aurangzeb, and other famous captains. This body made all haste, and at this point arose the hottest of the fighting on both sides. At length, coming to closer quarters, they took to their swords with the greatest vigour. Dara continued to hold his ground, seated on his elephant, shouting and making signs with his hands. He advanced always with the greatest composure, until, unable to bear up against this stout resistance, the enemy was forced to retire. ### [65.23.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.23.4) I saw in this action, as in so many others where I was afterwards present, that the only soldiers who fought were those well to the front. Of those more to the rear, although holding their bared swords in their hands, the Moguls did nothing but shout ' Boquox, boquox !' (Ba-kush ! ba-kush !), and the Indians 'Mar! mar!' (Mar! mar!)— that is to say, 'Kill! kill !' If those in the front advanced, those behind followed the example, and if the former retired the others fled, a custom of Hindustan quite contrary to that of Europe ; and if they begin to take to flight, by no method is it possible to stop them. ### [65.23.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.23.5) Owing to the great disorder of his people, caused by the valour of Dara, Aurangzeb, who was not very far away, ran great risk of being taken. But he disregarded the danger, and ordered a large division of his best cavalry, which was close at hand, to take up the resistance to Dara's advance. He tried to raise the courage of the few soldiers left to him by calling to the principal men, each by his name, saying, 'Mardaney delavaram bahader vactas' (Mardani, dilawaran-i-bahadur! waqt ast) — that is to say, 'Men of power, valour, and courage! now is the time!' Then, raising his hands to heaven, he exclaimed: 'Hia Coda, hia Coda!' (Ya Khuda! Ya Khuda!) — 'O God! O God! In you is my trust! I will sooner die on this spot than give way.' Placing his hands upon his morion, he ordered them to attach iron chains to the feet of his elephant as an attestation of his resolve. He pricked his elephant a little onward to reanimate the leaders who had gathered round him, all pledging him their word that they would yield their lives in his sight, rather than recede one single step. ### [65.23.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.23.6) Dara's design was to continue his advance until he had closed with Aurangzeb, and could attack him in person. But owing to the difficulties of the ground, and to the fatigue that overcame him, he made a short halt. This hindered his winning the day; for if he had kept his original rate of progress and maintained the vigour of his onslaught, the victory was his. Aurangzeb could have made no resistance with the small force left round him, for with a few men it was not possible to repel his enemy's victorious fighters, full of bravery and strength. But Aurangzeb's lucky star worked in his favour, for while Dara was still halted, news came to him that Chhatar Sal Rae had been routed and killed by Najabat Khan's force. Subsequently another still more unhappy report reached him (Dara). Rustam Khan, who fought against Sultan Muhammad and Bahadur Khan, was also dead, and his division in disorder. These leaders were killed by the traitors in their ranks, it being the more easy to kill them that they were riding on high elephants. ### [65.23.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.23.7) Learning that the troops of the two deceased generals were still fighting valorously, he (Dara) turned off to reinforce those divisions, doing his work so effectually that he routed Sultan Muhammad and Najabat Khan, and failed not at all in that which is expected of a valiant general. If that coward traitor Khalilullah Khan had made the slightest effort in support of his Prince Dara, there can be no doubt that this day would have seen the destruction of the rebels, and have become a consolation to Shahjahan, a glory to Dara, and a day of peace for all Hindustan. For Shah Shuja', although a valiant soldier, had not a large army, nor had he much sense, and it would have been possible to defeat him quickly, of which we will speak hereafter (I. 226). ### [65.23.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.23.8) But it seems as if God meant to punish the sins and lasciviousness of Shahjahan and the overweening pride of Hindustan. For there came once more to Dara a piece of news still more overwhelming — that is, the death of Ram Singh, Rathor. This rajah attacked with such energy the prince Murad Bakhsh that he penetrated the enemy's ranks, and gave them much to do. He dispersed their vanguard, captured their artillery, and coming close up to Murad Bakhsh with his brave Rajputs, stuck his elephant and its howdah full of arrows, and killed the cornac, or man who guides the elephant. Finally they planted three arrows in the face of Murad Bakhsh. He had as much as he could do to defend his life, to guide his elephant, and look after his restless infant son. The boy was so anxious to see what was going on that his father was forced to cover him with his shield and place one foot over his head. ### [65.23.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.23.9) There was no one else on Aurangzeb's side who fought so well as this prince. Raging at this resistance, and finding it impossible to slay him, Ram Singh, Rathor, and some of his Rajputs dismounted, and, like ravening dogs, leapt \[192\] on the elephant, hoping to sever the girths by sword-cuts and lance-thrusts, and thus bring Murad Bakhsh to the ground. The latter, seizing the occasion, saw that he could make a good shot, and planted an arrow in the breast of Ram Singh, Rathor, who forthwith fell to the ground. The elephant turned and seized him with its trunk, and, throwing him beneath its feet, finished him off. Thereupon the Rajputs, seeing their beloved captain was dead, increased in rage and fury, and battled more violently than ever. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.23](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.23) · Pramāṇa