The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c19.17

v4.c19.17

We now turn to the last days of Dārā Shukoh. After leaving Sind (early in December, 1658), with the small remnant of his army, he received help from the Rājās of Cutch and Navānagar, and reached Ahmadābād at the head of 3000 men. Here Shāh Navāz Khān, the governor of the province, joined him and opened the royal treasury to him (January, 1659). Dārā now raised his army to 22,000 men, took away the artillery of Surat castle, and, learning that Shujāʻ had advanced beyond Allahābād to attack Aurangzīb, he made a dash towards Āgra. On the way he turned towards Ajmer on receiving an invitation from Jasvant Singh, who promised to join him with all the Rājputs. But in the meantime Aurangzīb had crushed Shujā‘, and he now won Jasvant over by mingled threats of invasion and promises of favour, and arrived near Ajmer with his victorious army. Thus, Dārā had no alternative but to fight. He entrenched the pass of Deorāi, four miles south of Ajmer, his flanks protected by the hills of Bithli and Gokla and his front by a low wall bristling with guns.