The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c18.93

v4.c18.93

After holding a darbar with great ceremony to receive his new officials he started in pursuit of Dārā, but his march was slow, as his ever suspicious mind was occupied with the possibility of danger from the ambition of Murād Bakhsh. Secluded owing to his wounds Murād felt that his brother's power was increasing while he himself was overshadowed, and he began to increase his own troops by offering liberal pay and titles. When so many captains were stark adventurers, more likely to gain profit by fighting than in a settled peace, it was easy to gain recruits. His clumsy designs were easily read by Aurangzīb, who met them by craft and ruthlessness. Having marched a short distance from Āgra he sent money and horses to Murād to aid his expenses in the pursuit of Dārā and invited him to a banquet. For some days the dissuasion of his more apprehensive officers kept Murād from accepting the invitation, but a personal attendant who had been corrupted by Aurangzīb induced him to enter his brother’s camp after a heated day in the chase. The brothers ate together and Murād was invited to rest after the hunt. A female slave who was sent to his tent to shampoo his legs removed his weapons as he slept and he was easily made a prisoner, and carried off secretly and immediately to the fort at Delhi. Fickle troops at once joined Aurangzīb and their leaders accepted rich gifts.