Bedár Bakht did not enter the city and palaces of Ujjain, but pitched his camp on the bank of the river, at about a kos distant. Here he was attended by 'Abdu-llah Khán, the Súbadár of Málwá, and continued one month and twenty days expecting the arrival of his father, when that rash prince wrote him the follow­ing farmán: “Why have you not hastened on, nor sunk the boats in the Satlej, to prevent the approach of the enemy? Though he dare not face me, yet you have been guilty of high neglect.”

Bedár Bakht, agreeably to the orders of his father, moved towards Ágra, and was joined from the presence by Zú-l fikár Khán, Rám Singh Háda Zamíndár of Kota, and Dalpat Bun-dela, also by Amánu-llah Khán, who were sent by A'zam Sháh as much to watch the Prince's motions as to assist him. Mirzá Rája Jai Singh, Khán-'álam, a Dakhin chief, with his brother Munawwar Khán, and other officers, also joined from the presence with about 6000 horse.

Prince Muhammad A'zímu-sh Shán, who had by Aurangzeb's orders left his government of Bengal to proceed to the presence, had reached the vicinity of Ágra when he heard of the Em­peror's decease; upon which he marched to secure that city for (his father) Sháh 'Álam. ^{* *} When Bedár Bakht approached the banks of the Chambal, and A'zam Sháh arrived near Gwálior, A'zímu-sh Shán detached a considerable body from Ágra, under Muhtasham Khán, to guard the fords. Bedár Bakht was fond of enterprise, jealous of his honour, and of high mind, tempered with prudence. A rivalship for glory had always subsisted between him and his father. A'zam Shah, who was of rash courage, never looked beyond the present in his conduct. Like the whisker-twisting vaunters of Hindústán, if his son made any delay on his march, he would jest and sneer, attributing it to cowardice and dread of the enemy. On this account Bedár Bakht resolved to cross the Chambal immediately, and attack the posts of Muhtasham Khán; but this proceeding was strongly opposed by Zú-l fikár Khán, an experienced general of approved conduct. ^{* *} As Zú-l fikár Khán, in the opinion of some, was suspected of treachery, they seized this opportunity to persuade the Prince that he corresponded with Sháh 'Álam, and wished to delay engaging till his approach, in order to complete his designs of desertion to his cause. ^{* *}

The day following, suddenly, before morning prayer, the march for battle was sounded, and the Prince, completely armed, mounted the elephant which he always rode in the day of battle. I speeded to attend him. He had moved some distance from the tents before I came up. I found him with an angry countenance, uttering contemptuous exclamations and reproachful terms of Zú-l fikár Khán as deceiver, traitor, false wretch and the like, to some servile attendants round his elephant. ^{* *}

In the difference between A'zam Sháh and his son Bedár Bakht, justice was on the side of the father; for Bedár Bakht was rival to his father, and waited opportunity to dethrone him. As for me, I was never in the service of A'zam Sháh, nor had ever made him professions of duty, being wholly devoted to his son. Being alone with Bedár Bakht one night, he suddenly threw his arms about my neck, and holding down his head upon my breast said, “If a sovereign and parent seeks the life of a son, and that son is truly informed of his intention, how should he act in self-defence? Have you a precedent for it?” I re­plied, “Such a question is unnecessary. The behaviour of your grandfather to his father is sufficient precedent; and sovereigns are forced to expedients which are not justifiable in other men.” Conversation of this sort often passed between us; and one even­ing he asked me how he might gain an opportunity of seizing his father. I replied, “An opportunity will offer thus. When he has gained the victory over Sháh 'Álam, you will be the first to congratulate him. The troops will then be separated here and there in search of plunder, or looking after the dead and wounded; and as the tents will not be ready, your father will only be under a shámiyána (canopy), surrounded by a few kanáts (screens). You will be admitted to audience, attended by such of your followers as may have deserved notice for their gallant conduct in action; and at such a time they will be allowed their arms. It is probable that your father will not have many persons with him between the kanáts. Then is your time.” The Prince eagerly exclaimed, “You have spoken well! Dare you at such a time strike the blow?” I replied that though the act was easy, yet a sacred oath rested on our family never to shed the blood of a prince unless by chance in battle, if engaged in the cause of a rival, when it would be excusable. I then said, “Your other opportunity will be thus. Should the enemy fly, an army will be sent in pursuit, and probably under your command, while your father, setting his mind at ease, will be employed, without sus­picion, in pleasure and rejoicing. You may return suddenly upon him, and gain your wishes. Should this opportunity not occur, as you are his eldest son and have seen much service, he will certainly appoint you to the government of the Dakhin. You will then have a powerful army at your disposal. As your father's behaviour is offensive to the people, and many of the courtiers dislike him, they will aid your pretensions. Use open force and try for whom God will decide.”

Bedár Bakht, having crossed the Chambal at an unobserved ford, the troops of 'Azímu-sh Shán, who were stationed on the banks of the river in another quarter, left their artillery at the various posts and fled to Ágra, happy to save their lives. Zú-l fikár, who had advised the Prince to remain on the other side, seeing he had crossed, now came up reluctantly, and congratu­lated him on the success of his march. ^{* *}

Some days after this, A'zam Sháh approaching near, Bedár Bakht moved a kos in front, the spot he was upon being chosen for his father's tents, and on the morning of his arrival he went forth two kos from the camp to meet him. A'zam Sháh loved him as a son, though from the attention shown him by Aurangzeb he had regarded him as a rival. When he now beheld him after a long absence, paternal fondness for the instant overcame his jealousy, and he received him with strong marks of affection, conferring upon him a princely khil'at, etc.

Empire having been decreed to Sháh 'Álam, from the agency of destiny, such vanity took possession of the mind of A'zam Sháh, that he was convinced his brother, though supported by the myriads of Túr and Sallam, durst not meet him in the field. Hence those who brought intelligence of his approach he would abuse as fools and cowards, so that no one cared to speak the truth; as was formerly the case with the Emperor Humáyún during the rebellion of the Afghán Sher Sháh. Even his chief officers feared to disclose intelligence; so that he was ignorant of the successful progress of his rival.

At length Sháh 'Álam, having reached Mattra, sent by a celebrated darwesh the following message to A'zam Sháh: “By the divine auspices, we inherit from our ancestors an extensive empire, comprehending many kingdoms. It will be just and glorious not to draw the sword against each other, nor consent to shed the blood of the faithful. Let us equally divide the empire between us. Though I am the elder son, I will leave the choice in your power.” A'zam Sháh, vain-glorious and haughty, replied that he would answer his brother on the morrow in the field, and upon this the messenger departed. A'zam Sháh marched the next morning, and encamped between Jájú and Ágra, on a barren plain, void of water, so that the army was much distressed. Intelligence arrived during this day, that Sháh 'Álam was en­camped seven kos distant, and intended moving on the morrow, but to what quarter was not known.

I have already mentioned that my design is not to write the history of kings, but of myself and what I have seen. Accord­ingly, of the battle between the two brothers, I shall only relate such circumstances as I was an eye-witness of.

Prince Bedár Bakht, who commanded the advanced corps of the army, having given the necessary orders, began his march. ^{* *} The main body marched next, in the centre of which rode A'zam Sháh. ^{* *} We had not yet learned the position of the enemy, or what was the design of Sháh 'Álam. Bedár Bakht reached a village, near which was a stream of clear water, and there were some wells also around it. The troops at this time were much separated, and every chief, inattentive to order, moved as he chose. Seeing which, I represented to the Prince, that the main body was far behind, that the country in front was destitute of water for some miles, and the day promised to be distressingly hot. Without order, without intelligence of the enemy's motions, where would he hasten? I remarked the scattered march of his followers; Zú-l fikár Khán obliqued so far to the left as scarcely to be visible, and other chiefs were equally distant in every quarter. I observed that if he halted here till some news arrived of the enemy, there was sufficient water to refresh the troops; the artillery would come up; the Emperor would have time to join, and order would be restored in the line; also, that should the enemy advance upon him, he would have the advantage of good ground and plenty of water. He replied, “Your advice is just. Go and inform my father I shall follow it.”