The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c20.254

v4.c20.254

The battle began at noon, according to the Persian account, so that there was little force in Nizām-ul-Mulk's objection. The Indian troops¹, whose serried ranks extended over two miles of front and to the same depth from front to rear, were of very small fighting value compared with Nādir's hardy warriors, and the *mêlée* was rather a massacre than a battle. Burhān-ul-Mulk was recognised by a fellow-townsman from Nīshāpur, who sprang from his saddle, clambered by the ropes into the howdah of his elephant, and caused the animal, apparently without resistance, to be driven into the Persian camp. Khān Daurān was mortally wounded and died on the following day. "My own rashness", he said to the courtiers who had come to visit him, "has brought me to this. Now there is one thing for you to do. By any means possible keep Nādir Shāh out of Delhi. Buy him off here, and persuade him to return at once." This sound advice was frustrated by the jealousy and treachery of the courtiers. Muhammad Shāh and the survivors took refuge in their fortified camp, where provisions were already scarce and where they were besieged as in a fortress, and the emperor wrote a piteous appeal to the conqueror, based on the latter's own reference to their community of race.