In the days when Hīmūn blockaded the fortress of Baiāna God's people were crying for bread and taking each other's lives,* 430. a hundred thousand sacred lives were as nought for a single grain of barley, whereas the elephants of Hīmūn's army, which numbered five-hundred, were fed solely upon rice, and oil, and sugar; the senses* were shattered by anguish upon anguish in that terrible time:—
Verse.We cherish enemies, we also destroy friends,
What mortal has the power to question our decrees.
On one occasion Hīmūn was one day presiding at a public banquet, and summoning the Afghān Amīrs* into his presence, to the head of the table* urged them to partake of food, saying: “Help yourselves to the largest morsels,” and if he saw anyone of them eating slowly no matter who he was,* he would address him* in terms of the foulest abuse saying: “How can such a nondescript nonentity as you who are sluggish in eating your victuals hope to contend against your own son-in-law the Mughul in battle.” As the fall of the Afghān power was near at hand,* they had not the courage to say a word to that foul infidel, and laying aside all that disregard of superior force* for which they were renowned, swallowed his insults* like sweetmeats, either from fear or hope,* this had become a regular practice with them.
Verse.Lay not your hand obsequious on my foot,
Give me but bread, and brain me with your boot!
In the meanwhile news reached Hīmūn that Muḥammad Khān Sūr, Governor of Bangāla, had assumed the title of Sulān* Jalālu-d-Dīn, and was marching with an army* like the ants and locusts for multitude from Bangāla, and having reduced Jaunpūr was making for* Kālpī and Āgra. Just at this juncture an 431. urgent summons* arrived from ‘Adlī to Hīmūn in these words: “At all costs come to me at once as I am confronted by a powerful enemy.” Hīmūn thereupon abandoned the siege, and when he arrived at Manḍāgar,* which is distant six krohs from Āgra, Ibrāhīm (Khān)* like a hungry hawk which leaves* its nest and pursues the crane, pounced upon him, and hurled against him in battle, but being defeated went towards Alwar. Then, after obtaining* reinforcements from Hājī Khān Alwarī,* he again set about* accomplishing his own objects, and Hīmūn detailed* his brother's son named Thar Yāl* with a fully equipped army to pursue him. Thar Yāl* marching with restless haste pursued Ibrāhīm for two stages, and joined Hīmūn; Hājī Khān was not pleased at Ibrāhīm's coming, nor would he send him any assistance. Ibrāhīm being disheartened* turned aside, and bidding farewell to his father, brothers, and all his blood-relations, left them in Hindūn, and, with a small band of followers took the road to Bhatta. Eventually Ghāzī Khān a short time after, fell a prisoner into the hands of Ḥaidar Khān Chaghta in Baiāna, relying upon assurances,* and great and small of his party were put to death, and not a single one of that line was left, as will be related in its proper place,* if God Most High so will it; and now that kingdom and empire, and the independence of that family have become as an idle tale. How wonderful are the ways of God!
Manavī.The world is a juggler decrepit and bowed,
It brings to pass one thing but promises another;
It calls you with kindness but drives you away with rancour;
All its dealings are invariably of this nature.
If it calls you know not whither it calls you,
If it drives you forth you know not whither it drives you.
All of us, old and young, are destined to death,
No one can remain in the world for ever.
Inasmuch as everyone liked Ibrāhīm Khān who was considered by all to have a wonderful fortune in store for him, in a short time large numbers gathered to him from all parts. He fought 432. with the army* of Rām Chand, the ruler of Bhatta, but was forced to flee* and was taken prisoner. Rājā Rām Chand, in accordance with the customs of landholders,* made him a present of a bow, and treated him with the utmost honour and respect,* and in a personal interview* presented him with a royal tent, with the apparatus of royalty, and attendants: then seating him upon the throne, standing humbly as a servant, performed the offices of attendance.
Ibrāhīm Khān* spent some time there, till Bāz Bahādur the son of Sazāwal Khān, Ruler of Mālwa, who eventually read the Khubah in that country, became involved in a quarrel with the Miyānī Afghāns, who summoned Ibrāhīm Khān* and raising him to the supreme command, sent him against* Bāz Bahādur. Rānī Durgāwatī the ruler of the country* of Kara Katanka also, who was embroiled with Bāz Bahādur on account of the proximity of her kingdom, rose up* to assist Ibrāhīm, and went out to fight against Bāz Bahādur, who made overtures for peace* and dissuaded the Rānī from assisting Ibrāhīm. She, accordingly, returned to her own country, and Ibrāhīm, not considering it advisable to remain there any longer, went off bag and baggage to Orissa, which is the boundary of Bangāla, and lived on good terms with the zamīndārs. Suleimān Karrānī, when he took possession * (of Orissa), made terms with the Rājā, and sending for Ibrāhīm with assurances of safety, slew him treacherously in the year 975 H.
Verse.Fix not thy heart on this world, for it has no foundation,
Speak not of life, for that too is ruined.
The tent of life which thou placedst at first,
Death* will surely uproot, were it of solid steel.
Hīmūn proceeded by rapid marches till he joined ‘Adlī.*