Storia do Mogor 65.25
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 65.25
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65.25.1
He (Jai Singh) took counsel with his great [195] friend, Daler Khan, as to what should be done. They resolved that Rajah Jai Singh should go at once to the tents of Sulaiman Shukoh, where he was awaited with great impatience. The prince had already heard the news of the defeat of his father, Dara. At the interview Jai Singh disclosed to him clearly all that was going on, and showed him the letter received from Aurangzeb. He veiled under this letter and the orders of Aurangzeb the revenge he wanted to obtain on Dara for having called him a 'musician.' He (Jai Singh) pointed out the danger Sulaiman Shukoh was in; that there was no remedy; that he could not rely on the larger number of his officers, for nearly all were traitors. He (Jai Singh) gave the advice that, with all expedition, he should flee into the mountains of Sirinagar (Srinagar), of which I have spoken earlier (I. 147). This was the best and safest place for him to select, being a very secure refuge. There the rajah would receive him willingly, and thence he could watch the course of events without fear of Aurangzeb.
65.25.2
After this speech, Sulaiman Shukoh saw that he could rely neither on the rajah nor on Daler Khan, the rajah's friend. He then consulted his general, Dautcan (Da,ud Khan), as to what could be done in this extremity. This man proposed that, on the pretext of bidding them farewell and imparting to them some secret, they should be sent for together. As soon as they arrived in the tent, they should be then and there slain, and their troops taken over. With their united force they might then march resolutely against Aurangzeb, and wreak vengeance on him for what he had done to Sulaiman Shukoh's father, Dara. If this were done, Aurangzeb could not so easily carry out his purpose. The advice was sagacious, but it was not kept sufficiently secret. The rajah learnt of it through the prince's surgeon, an Armenian by race, called Sikandar Beg, all of which I was told by this very rajah himself (Jai Singh). To carry out the above intent Sulaiman Shukoh, his mind made up and all things ready, ordered the rajah and Daler Khan to be sent for with the accustomed ceremony. But having been warned, they sent him a private and straightforward message that their first answer and the advice then given were enough. It were well that, with all haste, he took the road the rajah had told him of. He must not wait for them, for their coming would be of no use to him.
65.25.3
With this reply Sulaiman Shukoh lost all hope. Fearing they might arrest him, he issued orders to load up the best of what he had. He took the road to the mountains, accompanied by some men who loved him, such as eunuchs, slaves, and a few real soldiers. With them went the Armenian who had betrayed the secret. He stuck to the prince by reason of the great profits he made and in the hope of increasing them. I encountered this fellow at the court two years afterwards, and by him I was told in detail the excessive hardships which the prince endured, as I will acquaint you later (I. 276).
65.25.4
The remainder of the soldiers and officers either took the road to their homes or enlisted under the rajah and Daler Khan. Although these men were such great captains, powerful and well reputed, they committed at this juncture a signal act of baseness — they sent men to fall upon the baggage of the fugitive prince. They robbed him of one elephant loaded with precious stones and one loaded with golden rupees, also of several camels bearing the greater part of the wealth that the poor prince possessed to meet his necessities. This act caused great confusion among and inconvenience to the small body that had adhered to Sulaiman Shukoh. From this moment many abandoned him. Wherever he passed, on every route, the villagers assassinated or stripped his people. One or two at a time, his followers continued to disappear, and when he reached the hills there remained with him under forty persons besides his family. There the Rajah of Srinagar received him with all possible honour and civility, assuring him of succour to the full extent of his strength, saying that he would be as safe there as if himself ruler of the country.
65.25.5
The miserable and unfortunate Dara, by a hurried flight, reached the gates of the Agrah fortress at nine o'clock at night, and sought some repose. But he did not want to enter, fearing that Aurangzeb might invest it and thus prevent his exit, when he would fall a prisoner and be abandoned by everyone. At the same time he was greatly ashamed at appearing before his father. He remembered that Shahjahan had wished to be present in the battle, but he had withheld consent, whereat he was now exceeding sorry. So far had he lost his wits that he knew not what he said or did. He sent this message to Shahjahan, his father, and his well-beloved sister, Begam Sahib: 'What has now happened to me is what you foretold.' He grieved them much, but as they loved him, in place of repining at his evil fate and in spite of all differences, the good old man, his father, sent to him a faithful eunuch called Faim (Fahim), to console him (Dara) and assure him that he still cherished for him, and would for ever cherish, the same love and strong friendship that he had always had for him; he felt deeply the misfortune that had befallen him. But he must not despair. There was still the other great army under Sulaiman Shukoh; with it he could renew the attack on the rebels, and routing them, inflict vengeance on them for their temerity.
65.25.6
At the same time, Shahjahan ordered to be sent to Dara mules laden with gold coin. He suggested his proceeding to the city of Dihli, and taking all the horses and elephants in the royal stables. Orders were sent to the governor of Dihli to open the gates to Dara, and to deliver to him the fortress, with all the treasures and other things within it. He was to be received with the same ceremonial and deference as if it were he (Shahjahan) in propria persona. For the execution of these orders trusty and well-known persons were sent in his suite, carrying letters to the above effect. He was advised to remain in Dihli, and not proceed farther. He (Shahjahan) gave his word of honour that he would do all he could to seize and chastise Aurangzeb. He would keep him (Dara) informed of everything that happened. The eunuch delivered this speech, but Dara was to such an extent confused, enfeebled, and cast down, with his thoughts wandering and his mind full of tribulation, that he was unable to utter a word, and lay writhing on the ground. The eunuch tried all he could to console him, on seeing him in this deep affliction, but he could not extract a single sensible word.
65.25.7
His sister, Begam Sahib, sent another faithful eunuch to him with some valuable jewels. She expressed her deep grief, telling him that she was even more discomfited than he; but she had not lost all hope of some day seeing him reign peacefully — that ever would she petition God in her prayers to look favourably on him. After this talk Dara repaired hurriedly to his mansion, and ordered the removal of all the precious stones that could be carried off. At midnight he made a start, taking with him his three wives, his daughter Jani Begom (Jam Begam), his little son Super Xacu (Sipihr Shukoh), and some chosen slave-girls. On his departure for the city of Dihli he was followed by some five hundred soldiers, for the most part slaves of his household. It was a great affliction to see such a down-come. On arriving at the city of Dihli he sent at once the orders of his father to the governor, requiring him to make over the fortress. But the governor, already averted by the letters of Aurangzeb, to whom he was well affected, declined to comply with Shahjahan's orders. Thus the unhappy Dara was forced, after seizing what horses there were in the royal stables, to resume his march and make for Lahor.
65.25.8
Seeing our total defeat, I made in haste for the city of Agrah, where I arrived at ten o'clock at night. The whole city was in an uproar, for a Portuguese called Antonio de Azevedo, who early in the battle had witnessed the plunder of the baggage, rode off at full speed. On arriving at the city of Agrah at two o'clock in the afternoon, his horse fell dead at his door. Thus the news began to spread that Dara had lost the battle, and the confusion was increased by Dara's own arrival. The curiosity of everyone was aroused to know how the defeat had happened, and men asked each passer-by about the safety of his master. This happened to me. An old woman asked me what had become of Khalilullah Khan. Owing to the rage I was in at his treachery, I replied at once that I was present when he was torn to pieces. The old woman was very disconsolate, and hastening her steps, went off to give this news at his house. Much weeping and lamenting was caused thereby, they supposing it to be the truth, for I had entered into some details on purpose.