The letters which Nizámu-l Mulk received from Court in­formed him that his son Gházíu-d dín, whom he had left as his deputy in the office of wazír, had been removed, that I'timádu-d daula Kamru-d dín Khán had been appointed wazír, and that under the influence of Kokí, bribery had increased. For these reasons, and for others which cannot be committed to writing, he proceeded from Málwá towards the Dakhin, which country indeed was the conquest of that illustrious general and his ancestors. ^{* *} At the end of the month of Ramazán he arrived at Aurangábád. He repeatedly wrote to Mubáriz Khán, but the answers which he received were proud and haughty, and made no profession of giving up his designs. Nizámu-l Mulk was very calm and forgiving. He again sent several admonitory letters, reminding Mubáriz of old obligations, and he waited at Aurangábád for two months to see what time would bring forth. But the destroying angel had lain his hands upon Mubáriz Khán, and led him towards Aurangábád.

Mubáriz Khán was joined by Bahádur Khán, brother of Dáúd Khán Paní, and by others with considerable bodies of men. He had collected large numbers of infantry, and his army was daily increasing. This was a great injury to the country, and en­couraged the restless Mahrattas. At the end of Zí-l ka'da Nizámu-l Mulk marched out of Aurangábád, and encamped by the tank of Jaswant, near the city. He still wrote letters to Mubáriz, to prevent a war, and save the lives of Musulmáns; but his adversary was deluded with the prospect of being Súbadár of the Dakhin, and remonstrances were of no avail. Mubáriz took counsel with his adherents. First he proposed to make a rapid march and fall unawares on Nizámu-l Mulk. Then he proposed to threaten his opponent's flanks, and by a rapid march in another direction throw himself into Aurangábád, and make himself master of the city. This plan he endeavoured to carry out. ^{* *} On the 23rd Muharram a battle was fought near the town of Shakar-Khera, in Birár, about forty kos from Aurang-ábád. [Long account of the plan and progress of the battle.] Two sons of Mubáriz Khán were killed, and two were wounded and made prisoners. Mubáriz Khán's elephant-driver received a number of wounds, and fell off the elephant. The Khán him­self then wrapped a garment soaked with his own blood around him, and drove the animal himself, until he fell dead under the many wounds he received. Shouts of victory then rose high from the successful army. ^{* *} Nizámu-l Mulk next day pro­vided for the burial of the dead, and took especial care that the wounds of Mubáriz Khán's two sons should be carefully attended to. ^{* *} He afterwards gave them a large amount in goods, jewels, and stuffs, to set them up in life again.

After the victory, Nizámu-l Mulk marched towards Aurang-ábád. On his way he learnt that Khwája Ahmad Khán, son of Mubáriz Khán, who had been left as deputy in charge of Haidar-ábád, had gone into the fortress of Muhammad-nagar, near the city, with his property and goods, and that he had set the fort in order. After a short stay at Aurangábád, Nizámu-l Mulk marched to Farkhunda-bunyád Haidarábád, ^{* *} and by grant of jágírs and other favours, induced Khwája Ahmad to give up the keys of the fortress.

Nizámu-l Mulk had never moved a hair's breadth in opposition to the Imperial dynasty; but in all his undertakings had shed a new glory on the House of Tímúr. Now there came to him from the Emperor an elephant, jewels, and the title of Ásaf Jáh, with directions to settle the country, repress the turbulent, punish the rebels, and cherish the people. Under his former rule the troubles caused by the Mahrattas and other enemies had been mitigated; but although Mubáriz Khán apparently did not pay the chauth according to the agreement made by the Saiyids, and had shown much activity in punishing the Mahrattas, still their officials, whenever and wherever they found the opportunity, levied the chauth, and whatever else they could get, and many of the roads were closed.

[Text, vol. ii. p. 965.] When Nizámu-l Mulk was appointed Súbadár of Ahmadábád, Haidar Kulí Khán repaired to Court; but heleft (as his deputies) in Ahmadábád, Shujá'at Khán and Ibráhím Kulí Khán, two brothers whom he had brought forward in the world, and he also left the third brother, Rustam 'Alí Khán, as his deputy at Surat. ^{* *} Nizámu-l Mulk appointed his uncle, Hámid Khán, to be deputy governor of Ahmadábád. ^{* *} On hearing of his approach, Shujá'at 'Alí and Ibráhím Kulí desired to go into the city and oppose his entry, or, according to another account, to obtain promises of safety, and then to submit. There was a continual state of hostility and war between these three brothers and the Mahrattas, and they did not pay the chauth. Safdar Khán Bání had a bitter hatred of Haidar Kulí Khán. With seven or eight thousand horse he joined the enemy, and went to meet Hámid Khán, and persuaded him that the three brothers were resolved upon resistance. It happened that Shujá'at Khán, riding on an elephant, met Hámid Khán as he was entering, and he drove his elephant towards that of Hámid Khán. A struggle then began, in which Shujá'at Khán was killed. Ibráhím Kulí Khán hid himself in his house, ^{* *} but he was soon afterwards killed in a party fight. ^{* *} Rustam 'Alí Khán heard at Surat of the death of his brothers, and his fraternal blood boiled to avenge them. He immediately began his preparations for exacting vengeance.

Between Rustam 'Alí Khán and Pílújí, a Mahratta chieftain at the head of ten or eleven thousand men, there had been for a year past a continual state of war, in consequence of a refusal to pay the chauth. There had been repeated conflicts, but no decisive action. Rustam 'Alí, under pressure of events, made friendly overtures to Pílújí, and after a peace was settled he united the Mahratta's forces with his own. Pílújí, on his side, thought that fortune was in his favour, and joined him with his forces. ^{* *} Hámid Khán, hearing of Rustam 'Alí's preparations, prepared his army and artillery, and he was joined by a Mah­ratta chief named Kantha, with 12,000 horse. On reaching the banks of the Mahí, a great battle was fought, with a heavy loss of killed and wounded on both sides. Hámid Khán was defeated, and his tents and baggage were plundered. He fled from the field to the river-side. Rustam 'Alí, having gained the victory, encamped a kos or two farther on. Hámid Khán won over the crafty Pílújí, and on the next day gave battle again. Rustam 'Alí had lost most of his brave veterans in the fight, but he prepared to resist. The forces of Pílújí now fell on Rustam 'Alí's baggage, and after some sharp fighting Rustam 'Alí's force was routed, and he himself was killed. The Mahrattas on both sides fell to plundering, and carried off whatever they could from the bázárs and shops of Ahmadábád and the districts round Baroda.