The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c18.92

v4.c18.92

The victor, after prayer, received his wounded brother, ascribing the victory to Murād Bakhsh's bravery and declaring that Murād's reign should begin at once. Then moving slowly towards Āgra he camped outside the city and received offers of service from the nobles, who easily abandoned the losing side. Shāh Jahān invited him to a meeting, to which he first agreed, but later withdrew his acceptance. Crafty himself, he feared an ambush. The emperor, finding his overtures rejected, and seeing the city occupied by his son's rebellious forces, was apprehensive for his own life, and closing the gates prepared to defend the fort, which contained a strong garrison of slaves and was almost impregnable by assault. Aurangzīb opened fire with his guns, but it was ineffective and time pressed. He therefore cut off the supply of water from the Jumna, and as the wells in the fort were brackish distress was quickly felt. After three days the emperor again appealed to the filial duties of his son and was met by renewed assertions that Aurangzīb was faithful to him while Dārā was the traitor. The gates were opened and the fort was cleared of Shāh Jahān's adherents, under the supervision of a grandson. Aurangzīb was again pressed to visit his father, who sent his daughter Jahānārā Begam with a proposal that the empire should be divided between the four brothers. Aurangzīb even set out in a gorgeous procession to enter the fort, but the dissuasions of his officers were reinforced by the delivery to him of a letter despatched by Shāh Jahān to Dārā assuring him that all would be well, and he passed by the gate.