History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v2.c24.25

v2.c24.25

Only the Bias now lay between Dara and his enemies, and this river he held strongly. Daud Khan was sent from Lahore with orders to cross the Bias and fight the Imperialists if possible, otherwise to retreat across the river and hold its western bank. He hastened to the ferry of Govindwal and learnt of the exact strength of the Imperial host which had been doubled by the junction of Khalilullah with Bahadur Khan. A battle against such odds was beyond his power. He, therefore, recalled the troops from Sultanpur and held Govindwal, where Sipihr Shukoh (Dara's second son) joined him from Lahore with reinforcements and instructions to engage the enemy. But Aurangzib had ordered Khalilullah Khan to halt for reinforcements, without forcing an action. The Emperor himself reached the Satlej at Rupar on 14th August, and, while he halted there for eight days to take his vast army across in the few boats and to ascertain if the road to the Bias was clear, he sent off Jai Singh and Dilir Khan with the artillery under Saf Shikan Khan to join Khalilullah and make his strength superior to the enemy's. This division reached the Van at Garh Sarang (18th) and there learnt that Dara had fled from Lahore after recalling Sipihr Shukoh from the Bias and ordering Daud Khan to burn his boats and fall back on him when the Imperial army would actually arrive on the left bank at Govindwal.∗