Storia do Mogor 80: Dispute between Aurangzeb and his Father.
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 80
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Dispute between Aurangzeb and his Father.
80.1
Proud of administering imperial affairs, and correcting, as I have said, the abuses which had arisen in the kingdom through the neglect of his father Shāhjahān, Aurangzeb was not content merely to do good work, but he strained his utmost to get himself praised by the nobles and his father discredited. He tried to lower Shāhjahān's reputation, and to take away his name in every way he could. In addition to this, in order to further enrage the old man and make his imprisonment weigh on him more heavily, he several times wrote him letters, in which he set forth the measures being taken against previous abuses, and condemned every rule followed by Shāhjahān in his government. He accused him of injustice to his people, of being negligent to his ministers, of being a corrupter of others' wives, of licentiousness in holding a women's fair, as a spendthrift in the expenses lavished upon indulging himself with women in the Hall of Mirrors, as I have already said (I. 130), and as a profligate by retaining in his palace a public dancer. On the other hand, he exalted all he did himself, glorifying his own works. Thus it may be said that Aurangzeb was a perfect disciple of the Pharisee, spoken of by our Saviour in the Gospel, who, instead of asking mercy from God, did nothing but recite his own good works. Above all, he prided himself on the number of hours he spent every day in public audience, in the hearing of complaints, and in efforts to suppress the abuses existing in the empire.
80.2
Nor did Shahjahan refrain from replying and excusing himself to his son, pointing out to him, among other things, that a man who rebelled against his father, treated his brothers cruelly, and drank so much blood, not sparing even his own sons, would never be able to do useful work for others. As for praising himself on account of sitting many hours daily in audience, what more patent sign could there be that the kingdom was badly administered? For when he (Shahjahan) directed the empire, officials walked so uprightly that, in spite of the daily beating of the big drum to call into his presence anyone wanting to complain of having received an injustice, months and months would pass without anyone coming to lodge a petition.
80.3
This quarrel between them lasted a long time, until Shahjahan in a rage wrote to Aurangzeb that he must remember that, after all, whatever he did proceeded from force belonging originally to the man from whom he derived his life. Besides the reasons given by Shahjahan in his own behalf, Mahabat Khan, governor of Kabul, did not fail to transmit to Aurangzeb a long argument, in which he described the qualities of Shahjahan and the deeds of Aurangzeb, a vigorous defence of the father against the son. Affected by these letters, Aurangzeb began to soften and show himself more compassionate to his father. By other letters he attempted to mollify him, sent him numerous presents, wrestlers to help to pass his time, players on instruments to alleviate the weariness of prison, and other playthings suitable to Shahjahan's habits while still free and emperor.
80.4
After these endearments Aurangzeb wrote to his father asking for a gift of the jewels still under his control. Shahjahan replied with a stiff letter, wherein he said that if ever again he dared to talk of such things, he (Shahjahan) had by him a metal mortar and a pestle wherewith to reduce the jewels to powder; nor would Aurangzeb ever get the jewels until thus made useless. But in place of the jewels asked for he sent him the loyal Acetcan (Asad Khan), a person whom he strongly recommended, declaring that he might be more safely trusted than any other living being. Others had been rebels to the father, and thus, on the occasion arising, they would also rebel against the son. On the other hand, Asad Khan had never wished to forsake his king, and would without fail be loyal to the son under every circumstance.
80.5
Aurangzeb accepted Asad Khan as his servant, giving him some of the principal offices at court. Finally, upon the death of Ja'far Khan, he was made secretary { = wazlr) of the whole empire, the which office Asad Khan continues to fill with great faithfulness until this very day, the 10th of March, 1699. Never again did Aurangzeb write to Shahjahan on the subject of the jewels, for which he had shown such cupidity. He sent an order to Foladcan (Fulad Khan), the treasurer, inquiring in what space of time he could look through the jewels and make him a report of their value. Fulad Khan asked for time for this estimate, and six months afterwards replied that it would take fourteen years to go through them and find out the value. On receiving this answer, not wishing to waste so much time, Aurangzeb abandoned his design.