The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c25.159

v3.c25.159

One of Mahmūd’s immediate attendants, Burhān-ud-dīn, a man who made pretensions to piety, and one of whose duties it was to lead the prayers when the king was in the field, offended him one day by disrespectful behaviour, and Mahmūd in his wrath sentenced him to death by being bricked up in a wall. The barbarous sentence was put into execution, but Mahmūd happened to pass while the wretch’s head yet protruded, took pity on him, and caused the structure to be pulled down. He was much lacerated and injured by the pressure of the mortar and rubble, but with care he recovered, and lived to resent his sufferings rather than to be grateful for his life. His resentment exhibited itself again in disrespect, and the king used language which left no doubt that he would not escape the punishment to which he had once been sentenced, but the celebration of the prophet Muhammad’s birthday, on February 15, 1554, temporarily diverted Mahmūd’s attention from the matter. At the conclusion of the feast which marked the occasion Mahmūd, stupefied with wine and drugs, withdrew to his bedroom, where he was attended by Daulat, the nephew and accomplice of Burhān-ud-dīn, who had also taken the precaution of corrupting the royal bodyguard, known as the Lion-slayers. It was an easy matter for Daulat to cut the king’s throat as he lay on his bed, and Burhān-ud-dīn issued summonses in the king’s name to all the chief officers of state. Most obeyed, and were assassinated by the royal guards, ten being slain in this manner, including the famous *vazīr*, Āsaf Khān, but ‘Abd-ul-Karīm I‘timād Khān suspected mischief, and remained at home. Burhān-ud-dīn then bestowed titles upon the soldiers of the guard and the menial servants of the palace, promised to promote them to the principal offices in the kingdom, and in the morning caused the royal umbrella to be raised over his head and proclaimed his accession.