[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) › 65.2 # Storia do Mogor 65.2 Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 65.2 - **Language:** English ### [65.2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.2.1) One day Shahjahan marched on a campaign to recover the fortress of Candar (Qandahar), which Alimerda Can ('Ali Mardan Khan), the Persian, had voluntarily surrendered, when he rebelled against his own king. Xaabas (Shah 'Abbas) retook it in the following way: A goat had escaped from its herd, and the goat-herd pursued in order to catch it. The goat, by one leap after another, got upon a high hill, and thence, following a route full of rocks, arrived inside the fortress. The goat-herd also entered it by the same way, and came out again without anyone knowing of his being there. When he got back, he went off to make a report at the court of Shah 'Abbas. With the goat-herd as guide, a sufficient number of soldiers started for Qandahar, and taking the hidden path above referred to, they made a secret entrance into the place ; during the night they decapitated the sentries, and got possession of the fortress. Although Shahjahan made three attempts to retake this fortress, he was not able to do anything. One day, on the march already referred to, a mendicant came up to him (Shahjahan), and the king intended to give him something ; but Aurangzeb told him not to do so, because the mendicant had a considerable sum of money tied round his waist, and in this Aurangzeb showed himself to be a true prophet. ### [65.2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.2.2) The king ordered the mendicant to be searched, and in his girdle they found forty rupees of gold. He (Shahjahan) said to his son : ' If what you did and said was not a plot, you are a saint.' Aurangzeb, seeing that his father had begun to place faith in his pretences, made believe to intensify his abstinence, simply to deceive his father, so that his rank might be increased. It was found out afterwards that the mendicant had been tutored by him (Aurangzeb) ; in spite of this, all the simple-minded people took him for a saint. But his father, who knew well the nature of this son, and also recollected the words of the faqir with the apples, gave little credit to all this show of holiness. It was for this reason that he did not increase the low rank that he had first given him. To his other sons he gave many tokens of paternal affection — above all, to the eldest son, Dara. Envious of this preference, Aurangzeb sought means of injuring his brother Dara, to whom he had a great antipathy. ### [65.2.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.2.3) Shahjahan was anxious to prevent the occurrence of any trouble at court. He therefore ordered that only one prince should come each day to his presence. But Aurangzeb, pricked by envy and the desire of injuring his brother Dara, rode out on horseback, lance in hand. He waited until Dara should come out of the fortress. Then he spurred his horse in such a way that it struck his (Dara's) palanquin with its hindquarters, so that the litter nearly fell to the ground. Dara, thus insulted, made bitter complaints to his father. The father, seeing this want of harmony among his sons, and fearing some misfortune, separated them. He knew that Aurangzeb was in treaty with his brother Xaxuja (Shah Shuja') for the marriage of his son, Sultan Mahamud (Mahmud), with the latter's daughter when she arrived at a proper age. He therefore sent the prince Shah Shuja' to be lord over the kingdom of Bemgalla (Bengal), and Prince Aurangzeb to the city of Moltan (Multan), and Prince Moradbacx (Murad Bakhsh) to the kingdom of Guzurab (Gujarat) ; while he kept with himself the prince Dara, his eldest son, as being the most esteemed and loved. ### [65.2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.2.4) Aurangzeb knew that his father put no faith in him, and did not love him. He therefore wrote to him (Shahjahan) letters in most humble terms, also making use, with great foresight, of his brother Dara. To the latter he wrote many letters, begging a thousand pardons for the affronts he had committed ; he said he had done them as one having no sense. He offered him the services of his family and of himself, if he would only have compassion upon him and his sons ; adding that he looked on him (Dara) as a father. Dara, who was of a genial character and compassionate nature, sent loving letters in reply. Then Aurangzeb, seeing matters well arranged, wrote to his eldest brother a letter in which he entreated him to obtain from their father leave to quit the city of Multan, where the climate did not agree with him and he was always ailing, and asked that he might be transferred to the Dacan (Dakhin). ### [65.2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.2.5) The cunning man made this request because he saw that in the Dakhin he could establish his fortunes through the continual activity of the armies there, owing to the existence of the kingdoms of Vizapur (Bijapur) and Golconda (Gulkhandah), and because the lands of the Dakhin are very productive, abounding in supplies of food and various sorts of cloth, and contain many minerals. The petitions that Dara made to his father were so insistent that this favour was granted Aurangzeb ; he was withdrawn from Multan and ordered to the Dakhin. Shahjahan was unwilling to concede these requests; still, from Dara's importunities he granted what was asked. But he said to Dara : ' You are acting on behalf of a venomous snake, and you will have to suffer from its poison.' Aurangzeb went to the Dakhin, where his strength began to increase. Near to Doltabad (Daulatabad) he built a city that he called Aurangabad — that is to say, ' Built by Aurangzeb.' There he began to weave the web of his rebellion, including the destruction of his father and his brothers. ### [65.2.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.2.6) Before speaking of the wars waged by Shahjahan and of his downfall, it is necessary to say something of his disposition. Although warlike, as he showed by his rising against his father, he was at the same time fond of music and dancing to the same degree, more or less, as his father Jahangir. His usual diversion was to listen to various instruments, to verses and poetry ; and he was very fond of musicians, especially of one who was not only a graceful poet, but also a buffoon. ### [65.2.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.2.7) This musician was worried by the palace gate-keepers, who are exceedingly rude to anyone who requires entrance to court. They will not permit anyone's entrance or exit without some douceur, excepting the officials, to whom they can say nothing for fear of a beating. Every time that this musician came to court the gate-keepers made him wait a long time, until he either gave them or promised them something. Anxious to rid himself of such hindrances, he composed some verses, and arrived to recite them in the presence of the king. The gate-keepers did not fail to display their accustomed insolence, detaining him until he had promised to give them all that was bestowed on him this time by the king. He went in and recited in such fine style and with such graceful behaviour that the king was much delighted, and ordered for him a reward of one thousand rupees. The singer transmuted his joy into tears, raising his hands to heaven, weeping and beating his breast to show his sorrow at such a present. He said to the king with many bows that he prayed him as a favour to order him in place of the thousand rupees to receive one thousand stripes. Shahjahan smiled, and asked why he made such a request. ### [65.2.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.2.8) He replied that he had promised to the gate-keepers all that he should acquire, or his majesty should make a gift of to him during the day. Thus, since they were rude, not allowing him to enter or go out without his taking out his purse and giving something, he was willing to transfer to them the thousand stripes, or even more if the king so wished. The king laughed heartily, and to satisfy him sent an order to serve out the thousand stripes to the twenty-five gate-keepers then on duty. The gate-keepers complained ; but the poet made his excuses, saying he had only kept his promise. The gate-keepers got the thousand blows, while he carried off the thousand rupees, and, in addition, a horse of which the king made him a gift. The horse they gave him was gone in the loins. He tied a bundle round the neck of this horse, and when the king came out he mounted it, and showed off its paces before him. The king asked him why he had tied on the bundle; it hindered the horse in his paces. He answered that it was there to equalize the weights, thus giving a hint that the horse was gone in the back. Shahjahan was delighted, and ordered them to give him another horse. From that day forth the gate-keepers were very respectful to this musician, so that they might not get any more beatings. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.2) · Pramāṇa