History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c21.51

c21.51

Events at Delhi also had taken a new turn. From the very beginning Khusrau had great apprehensions from Ghayāsuddin, and it was on account of him that he had given particular attention to Malik Jūnā and had appointed him to the high office of Akhūrbeg.³⁶ Ever since Malik Jūnā had fled from the court the real intentions of the Tughlaqs had become all the more manifest. Nāṣiruddin set to organise his forces for future emergency. Intelligence of the happenings in the various provinces caused by the diplomacy of Ghāzī Malik had reached his ears and the deaths of Maliks Maghlatī and Yaklakhī had sufficiently alarmed him. Although Khusrau had fought many battles in the Deccan yet he was no match for the veteran warrior Ghāzī, who had struck terror into the hearts of the Mongol invaders. Khusrau Shah gave the command of his forces to Sūfī Khan. With the troops he already had, and some others whom gold had secured for him, he prepared to fight the Tughlaq adventurer. A portion of his army, some 40,000 strong, marched under the command of Khan-i-Khānān, the king's brother, to check the advance of Ghāzī Malik from the very start. They marched to Sirsuti but failed to capture it. Then they proceeded onward to Deopalpur to give battle to Ghayāṡuddin there. The rival forces met in an open field somewhere near Dabhali or Dalili, then a village between Sirsuti and Deopalpur. After a short skirmish the royal forces were utterly routed and they fled pell-mell. Their youthful commander fled from the field of battle leaving behind elephants and horses and treasures to be seized by the victors. A large number of the vanquished were taken prisoners. The intelligence of this terrible disaster was conveyed to the king. It broke his spirits and frightened his partisans.