History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v3.c40.s4.3

v3.c40.s4.3

Again, Dara at the time of his flight had deposited 27 lakhs of Rupees worth of jewels, belonging to his wives and daughters, in the strong room of the ladies' quarters inside Agra fort. Aurangzib demanded their surrender. Shah Jahan long resisted and remonstrated; but at last he yielded them. According to Khafi Khan and Manucci, Aurangzib's greed was insatiable: he asked for the rosary of 100 round pearls,—all of one colour, size and weight,—worth four lakhs of Rupees, and the thumb-ring (arsi) of diamond, which his father constantly wore on his person,—saying that they became a king better than a recluse such as Shah Jahan now was! The deposed Emperor sorrowfully gave up the ring, but said, "I use the rosary in saying my prayers. I shall give it up only after pounding the pearls in a mortar!"—at which Aurangzib desisted.*