The Army of the Indian Moghuls: Its Organization and Administration c23.7

c23.7

While the artillery duel went on, the rest of the army was drawn up at some distance behind the guns in the order of battle already detailed, with standards displayed, drums beating, and horns blowing. “As the army took up its position for battle, the long brass horns (*karranai*) sounded and heralds¹ made proclamation” (*Sair-ul-Mutā-kharīn* text, 59, *Seir*, i, 208). Since, as Isaïah says, “every battle of the warrior is with confused noise”, some mention must be made here of battle cries. Horn, 23, tells us that in Bābar’s time there was a pass word to distinguish friend from foe; we hear nothing of such a practice in later times. But shouts and battle cries, coupled with abusive or taunting language, were copiously resorted to. Such cries were *Allāhu akbar*! (God is great) and *Dīn*! *Dīn*! (The faith! The faith!). Akbar used the cry of *Yā Muʿīn*! (O Helper!), Horn 109, quoting Budāonī, ii, 167, Lowe 170. The passage in Budāonī is: