While the Shāhinshāh was engaged in besieging Ranthanbhōr the standard of the army of Spring was upreared, and the “'ar” of the New Year took possession of the world. The mouth of the bud opened, and the fire of the rose shed sparks.
The new spring was like young men's minds
And fresher than the brains of the wise
The garden-fortress shot fire from the rose
The armies of the jasmine and cypress careered,
The hyacinth-bed shed everywhere perfume
And excited more joy than the mountain-shade
The tulip in the field seemed to hold up a flag,
The thunder in the clouds was like a mountain-echo
The breeze brimful of the bounty of the world's morn
Suffused the earth's brain with fragrance.
By the felicity of the Shāhinshāh the outer world took the freshness and pleasantness of the spiritual world. The Great Luminary—the gift-bestower on the world—entered its house of exaltation after 7 hours, 9 minutes of the night of Friday the 22nd Ramẓān 976, 11 March 1569, and the 14th year or the Divine Year Ardī-bihisht of the 2nd cycle began. The vernal breeze gave the news of the blowing of the rose and proclaimed victory to mortals, and the birds of the garden sang in chorus. As after consideration it appeared certain that the enterprise was impossible without the application of sābās which are the demolishers of the stiffnecked, an order was given to Qāsim Khān Mīr Barr-u-Baḥr to prepare one. For greater security Rajah Todār Mal, who had the control of the vīziership, was also employed on this service. Able superintendents raised a lofty sābā near the valley of the Ran. Strong stone-cutters as well as smiths and carpenters addressed themselves to this duty. In a short space of time the work was far advanced, and the work became on a level with the fort. Great culverins, each of which was with difficulty dragged over level ground by two hundred pairs of oxen, and which threw a stone of sixty mans and a bullet* of thirty mans were drawn up such a mountain full of heights and hollows by winding paths by iron-armed kahārs and strong-shouldered porters, by the genius of the Shāhinshāh who is the opener of physical and spiritual knots, over the hillock of the Ran where the royal battery was. In accordance with orders firing began. At every discharge there was a reverberation in the mountain, the ears of the solid rocks were opened, and there was a breach in the walls of the fort and the houses went to dust.
On seeing this state of things the smoke of amazement rose in Sūrjan's brain, and dust was evolved from his breath. His pride was shattered, and the fire of his disposition quenched. At the end of the month of Ramẓān, 19th March 1569, which was the first day of victory, the Shāhinshāh remarked: “If the garrison do not to-day come to do homage, next day, which is the 'Īd, the fort will be our target (qabaq).” Sūrjan's heart gave way. He employed the intercession of the courtiers and sent his sons Dūda and Bhoj to court. They succeeded, by the instrumentality of some high officers, in obtaining an interview and placed the foreheads of supplication on the threshold of sincerity. They begged the pardon of their father's offences and requested that they might perform the prostration (sijda). Inasmuch as the ocean of the Shāhinshāh's forgiveness is always in motion, the ear of their hope was made heavy by the jewels of favour. They were attired with robes of pardon and sent to their father. One of the strange things that occurred on that day was that when the sons of Sūrjan were brought out from the royal pavilion to receive their robes of honour, one of the doomed Rajputs, who was with them, conceived the notion that possibly an order had been issued for the seizure of the lads. In his loyalty he got excited and proceeded to draw his sword. Bipākdas (?) Sakrwāl, a servant of Rajah Bhagwant Dās, was near at hand, and began to rebuke the Rajput and to give him advice. The fated one attacked him with his sword, but that excellent man did not budge and continued his admonitions, saying that his duty was clear, that he was the friend of both parties, and that the Rajput should desist as he was under a mistake. The furious man did not attend to him, but ran towards the royal daulatkhāna. He wounded Pūran Mal, son of Kānth Sajāwat, and also one or two others. He also clove to the middle Bahāu-d-dīn Majẕub of Budāūn, who was in the circle of admirers of the holy beauty (of Akbar). Meanwhile one of Moaffar Khān's servants came up and disposed of him. H.M. the Shāhinshāh was astonished at the occurrence. Though the sons of Sūrjan were not to blame and were not censured, yet they were somewhat ashamed. They were encompassed with favours and joyfully rejoined their father, and communicated to him the happy intelligence. Sūrjan, in order that his honour might be preserved, begged that one of the intimate courtiers might come and introduce him to the court, and H.M. the Shāhinshāh granted his request, and nominated Ḥusain Qulī Khān. When the latter drew near the fort, Sūrjan hastened to meet him, and to convey him with honour to his house. On the day of Māh the 12th Farwardīn, Divine month, corresponding to Tuesday 3 Shawwāl, 22nd March, he came out of the fort and prostrated himself at the threshold. He tendered suitable gifts, and the keys of the fort, which were made of gold and silver. He was treated with great favour and attained to security and tranquillity. Through some courtiers he represented that after three days spent in the fort he would bring out his family, etc., and that thereafter he would make over the fort to the imperial servants and proceed himself to the capital. Meanwhile his sons would wait on the royal stirrup. H.M. accepted his proposition, and gave him leave to depart. An order was issued for the dispersal of the troops. Sūrjan entered the fort, and was occupied for three days in bringing out his dependants and his goods, and then made over the fort, with its granaries, and stores to Mihtar Khān, who was one of the great officers. The conquest of such a lofty fort, which great rulers had not been able to accomplish after long sieges, and which Sulan Al'aū-d-dīn had taken with great difficulty after a year, was effected by H.M. the Shāhinshāh in the space of one month. Next day H.M. entered the fort. The cries of “God is great” (Allah Akbar) resounded in that heaven-like mountain, and songs of exultation rose high from holy celestials!
Wherever the eye looked, there was sign of victory.
Wherever the ear applied itself, there was news of conquest.
When by the help of fortune the standard of victory had been raised high as Capella, and the management of Ranthanbhōr had been arranged for, Khwāja Jahān and Moẓaffar Khān were, in accordance with orders, sent off to the right with the large camp towards the capital, while H.M. the Shāhinshāh went off with his intimates towards Ajmīr and the illustrious shrine. Every day he enjoyed the pleasures of hunting till at length he reached that delightful city (Ajmīr). H.M. paid his respects to the shrine and scattered coin into the skirts of the attendants. During the week that he spent there he visited the shrine every day, and in going and coming showed great reverence. Afterwards he proceeded towards the capital.
When he alighted at Amber, Rajah Bhagwant Dās, whose native town it was, came forward with sincerity and arranged a feast. He also tendered noble gifts. The royal cortège moved from thence, stage by stage. On the way news was brought to H.M. of the death of Darbār Khān. At the time of proceeding to Ajmīr he had, on account of severe illness, obtained permission to repair to the capital. In accordance with heaven's decree he died in that city. As H.M. is a mine of gentleness and an appreciator of merit, he was rendered very melancholy by this catastrophe. As in the world of asceticism and isolation patience and endurance in such matters is proper, so in the world of association are restlessness and disturbance approved of. But in the case of an all-sincere king such events are but the polishers of the jewel of devotion! In accordance with his directions (waīyat) that faithful servant was buried at the foot of the royal dog,* where formerly a dome had been erected by him. His children were encompassed by royal favours. May almighty God preserve this loyalty-rewarding Shāhīnshāh for epochs and cycles on the throne of dominion, and not suffer the dust of sorrow to touch the hem of his ever-vernal heart!
O God, as long as there is a centre to the sky
Make not the world vacant of this King
May the heavens be his signet ring
May the key of the world be in his sleeve.
In fine, after traversing various stages he arrived at Agra on the 31st Ardībihisht, Divine month, corresponding to Wednesday 24 Ẕī-l-q'ada, 11 May 1569, and alighted in the centre of the citadel in the Bangāli-Maḥal which had been newly constructed. The gates of justice and graciousness were thrown open for mankind.