Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c27.s3.3

v2.c27.s3.3

Ten days passed in this way, and though Hāfiz Rahmat mediated for terms, Najib was not induced to abandon Shukartal for the defence of his home. During this raid the food supply of Shukartal was for a time cut off and wheat sold there at four seers a Rupee and the besieged mostly lived on peas boiled whole (ghughni) ; the Afghan garrison became alarmed for the safety of their families left behind in the threatened villages, and began to give way to bewilderment and despair. But their veteran chieftain held on with a grim tenacity of will and reassured them, saying, “Remember God. Ahmad Shah is coming. From the first day of the siege, I have set my heart on death. Whatever is destined will happen. Seek no other course than fight.” The military effect of Govind Ballāl’s raid was therefore nothing.