The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c20.343

v3.c20.343

Ghāzī Malik now set out for Delhi. He was first opposed by Yaklakī, the noseless and earless governor of Sāmāna, but swept the feeble obstacle from his path. Yaklakī fled to Sāmāna and was preparing to join Khusrav at Delhi when the landholders of the district rose against him and cut him to pieces. At Sirsa Ghāzī Malik defeated and put to flight an army under the command of Hisām-ud-dīn, the usurper’s half-brother, and continued his march to Delhi. Khusrav prepared to meet him near the old fort at Indarpat, and in attempting to secure the fidelity of his troops by donations varying in amount from four to two and a half years’ pay and to conciliate by means of gifts the most respected professors of the religion which he and his followers had outraged, completely emptied the treasury. His profusion availed him little, for ‘Ain-ul-Mulk, who was hardly less powerful than Ghāzī Malik, deserted him and withdrew with his troops into Mālwa.