The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c19.227

v4.c19.227

It was now easy for the enemies of ‘Abdul-Karīm Khān, who was notoriously on friendly terms with Dilīr Khān, to represent that he had betrayed the kingdom, and the governor of Adonī visited Golconda and begged Abu-’l-Hasan Qutb Shāh to intervene for the sake of saving Bījāpur from the Mughul. Abu-’l-Hasan summoned ‘Abdul-Karīm to Golconda to confer with him on the measures to be taken for saving the two kingdoms, and when he obeyed the summons upbraided both parties at Bījāpur, but specially that of ‘Abdul-Karīm, with betraying the kingdom by their dissensions. He convinced ‘Abdul-Karīm Khān that he had lost the confidence of all the friends of the southern kingdoms and persuaded him to make way for Mas‘ūd Khān. ‘Abdul-Karīm Khān raised a difficulty regarding the payment of his troops, to whom he owed 500,000 rupees, but Abu-’l-Hasan made himself responsible for the sum. An agreement having been reached Mas‘ūd Khān and ‘Abdul-Karīm Khān were reconciled and returned together towards Bījāpur, visiting Dilīr Khān at Gulbarga on their way. Dilīr Khān accepted the arrangement with the addition of one condition, the marriage of Pādishāh Bībī to Sultān A‘zam, the emperor’s third son. To this stipulation Mas‘ūd Khān perforce agreed and, peace having been concluded, Mas‘ūd Khān and ‘Abdul-Karīm Khān continued their march towards Bījāpur, but ‘Abdul-Karīm Khān fell sick and died, on 2 January, 1678, at Hīrāpur, and Mas‘ūd Khān returned alone to the capital. He paid ‘Abdul-Karīm Khān’s infantry, but either would not or could not pay the cavalry, who dispersed, some joining Shivājī and some the Mughuls. The betrothal of Pādishāh Bībī was so unpopular at Bījāpur that it was only by promising that this condition should not be observed that Mas‘ūd Khān could restore tranquillity.