Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c7.s4.14

c7.s4.14

Two stories are worth narrating in greater details to illustrate the point. It is related that Sher Khan (afterwards Sher Shah) was once overtaken by the Mughal army at night with a few supporters. One of his officers named Saif Khan offered to obstruct the progress of Humayun to allow the escape of Sher Khan. He assembled his brothers at day-break and began to explain to them the great virtue of self-sacrifice. ‘Do not hesitate to give your life’ said the warrior, ‘for death is inevitable in any case and no mortal can escape from it. Your master who maintains you in time of peace and accords a number of immunities expects from you in return to serve him with your life when occasion demands it. If, therefore, you are true to the name of a soldier, do not hesitate; rather, hasten to acquire the glory of the two worlds by a prompt offering of your life’. Before Saif Khan had concluded his exhortations, his brothers reminded him that men of action do not waste their breath on words. They proceeded to engage the enemy and perished to a man. (*Vide* T.S.S., 41b).