The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c18.91

v4.c18.91

Dārā's conduct of the battle was as inept as his character and training would suggest. At an early stage he left the centre and moved to the support of Rustam Khān, thus masking his own artillery, and losing control of other parts of the field. He was met by the fire of Aurangzīb's guns, which had been reserved till then. Attempting a fresh attack to the right he found his heavily armoured troops exhausted by the heat and met by fresh reserves, while the enemy's guns were moving to encircle him. His officers pressed him to dismount from his elephant on which he offered too conspicuous a mark. The empty howdah, seen from a distance, made his troops believe he was dead, and the shattered units broke and dispersed for safety. Dārā escaped on horseback, barely able to cover the short distance to Āgra without a halt, having lost 10,000 men in the battle, while many others perished from heat or exhaustion. Ashamed to meet his father after defeat when he had sallied forth boasting of the victory he expected, he fled in a few hours towards Delhi, accompanied only by a handful of servants, and leaving the emperor in despair.