Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c27.s24.2

v2.c27.s24.2

On the right of Najib and left of the grand wazir stood Shujā-ud-daulah, with 2000 horse and 1000 State-equipped infantry and twenty guns, besides *jixails*, ready to meet any attack. But none attacked him. Facing him were a number of small individual contingents, namely those of Shamsher Bahadur, Jaswant Rao Puar, and others, but these did not make any move throughout the day. "Twice or thrice their swords and spears flashed in the sunlight in the distance, as if they were going to issue on a charge, but it did not materialize, and the thing passed off safely for us," as Shujā's clerk writes. It means that every time the Bhāu made a charge from the centre, a thrill of excitement passed through his right wing and some men there shouted to be led on to an advance from that wing; but they had no general with heart or leadership, the momentary enthusiasm evaporated and nothing was done. Only at the end of the day, when all was almost over at the Maratha centre and left wing, and the entire Afghan line advanced, Shah Pasand and Najib made an onset upon their opponents. Malhar first fled away, uncovering Jankoji's right flank, which Shah Pasand at once turned; Sindhia's ever-beaten contingent shamelessly followed Holkar's example, leaving their chieftain to his fate. [SPD. xxvii. 271.] Jankoji was wounded and driven upon the centre, Jaswant Puār and a son of Pilāji Jādav fell, Shamsher Bahadur was mortally wounded, and the Maratha right wing ceased to exist.