The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c29.40

v3.c29.40

Meanwhile Jahāngīr Khān of Berar received orders from his master to change sides, and proceeded to intercept all grain and provisions coming from the south for the allies. The invaders, reduced to great straits, raised the siege of Ahmadnagar and marched to Āshtī, whence an army was sent to besiege Parenda. Husain, with whom was his ally Daryā, sued for peace, and Sadāshivarāya, the dominant partner in the confederacy, insisted on three conditions, the surrender of Kaliyāni to ‘Alī, the death of Jahāngīr Khān, whose interception of convoys had caused famine and much distress in his camp, and the personal submission of Husain. The second of these, the execution of an ally for faithful and efficient service, was impossible of acceptance but by one dead to all sense of honour and of shame, but Husain accepted it and caused Jahāngīr Khān to be put to death, while his master, being to some extent in the murderer’s power, could do nothing to save his servant, but retired sullenly to Berar. Husain’s humiliation before Sadāshivarāya was a fitting punishment for his turpitude. The haughty Hindu refused to acknowledge his salutation otherwise than by giving him his hand to kiss, and Husain in his wrath called for water and washed his hands. The insult was returned by the infuriated Sadāshivarāya, who uttered the threat, in Canarese, that if Husain had not been his guest the largest part of him that would have been left whole would have been his finger tips. The quarrel was composed, and Husain was compelled to surrender the keys of Kalyāni.