History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v2.c27.47

v2.c27.47

Malik Jiwan, with his greed sharpened by the hope of reward from Aurangzib, sent fast couriers with the news of the capture to Bahadur Khan and Jai Singh, who had reached the left bank of the Indus near Siwistan. But they had learnt of the event earlier from their agent Qazi Inayetullah, whom they had sent to instigate the zamindars of the Bhakkar district against Dara. They at once hastened forward, leaving their camp and baggage behind, and making a forced march through mid-summer heat and raging simoom. Near Bhakkar they crossed over the Indus to the right bank (20th June) and pushed an advanced detachment on to bring the captives away, while the two generals marched more slowly behind. On the 23rd Dara, with his son and two daughters, was delivered by Jiwan to Bahadur Khan, and the Imperialists set out on their return. The fallen Prince was speechless with despair and utterly dazed by calamity; he consented to everything that his captors suggested. They made him write a letter to the eunuch Basant, ordering him to give up to the Imperialists the fort of Bhakkar with Dara’s property and family lodged there, and sent the eunuch Maqul to carry it as a proof of Dara’s ruin.