Sháh 'Álam Bahádur Sháh died on the 21st Muharram, 1124 A.H. (18th February, 1712 A.D.). * * It happened that one day as Jahándár Sháh and 'Azímu-sh Shán were sitting near his bed, the latter perceiving under a corner of his pillow a dagger of very exquisite workmanship, took it up to admire the jewels with which it was adorned and the water of the blade. Upon his drawing it from the scabbard, Jahándár Sháh, jealous of his brother, was seized with a panic. He started up, and retired with such precipitation, that he struck the turban from his head against the door of the tent, forgot his slippers at the entrance, and fell down over the ropes. Being assisted to rise and adjust his dress by his servants, he rode off to his tents with all the speed and hurry possible. This occasioned much alarm in the camp. I met the Prince with his attendants, pushing on his elephant with frantic haste, upon seeing which I endeavoured to pass unobserved; but he knew me, and sent a messenger to call me. As I had previously attached myself to 'Azímu-sh Shán, I did not obey the mandate, but passed on to the Emperor's tents. * * The Amíru-l umará called for me, and desired me to send my grandson 'Ináyatu-llah to 'Azímu-sh Shán, to ask him how he could serve him on the present occasion. I sent him, but he returned with a reply laconic and slight as if from a nobleman of high rank to the commander of a hundred, written in the hand of his confidant as follows: “As the Imperial servants can know no place of support but this Court, and most have already repaired to it, the Amíru-l umará must also pay his duty, with assurance of a gracious reception in the presence.” When the Amíru-l umará read this, he shed tears, and said to me, with much emotion, “You see the manners of the Prince and his advisers. Alas! the errors of a favourite unacquainted with government often endanger the very existence of his master.” * * After saying this, he collected his followers, and moved his tents and effects to the quarter of Prince Jahándár, where he thought his services most likely to answer his own interest. * * He had formerly been disgusted with 'Azímu-sh Shán, for preferring to himself the Khán-khánán and Mahábat Khán, and he now swore to assist the three brothers in effecting his destruction, and in making an equal division of the empire and treasures among them.
When Jahándár Sháh, by the intrigues and support of the Amíru-l umará Zú-l fikár Khán, had triumphed over his three brothers, and ascended the throne of empire, without the fear or dread of a competitor, all the customs of time were changed. He was himself a weak man, effeminately careful of his person, fond of ease, indolent, and totally ignorant of the arts of government. He had also blemishes and vices unworthy of royalty, and unknown among his illustrious ancestors. He made the vast empire of Hindústán an offering to the foolish whims of a courtezan. The relations, friends and minions of the mistress usurped absolute authority in the State; and high offices, great titles and unreasonable grants from the Imperial domains were showered profusely on beggarly musicians. Two krors of rupees annually were settled for only the household expenses of the mistress, exclusive of her clothes and jewels. * *
The Amíru-l umará Zú-l fikár Khán, seater, nay even creator of emperors, with such a puppet of humanity in his hands, became absolute and filled with pride. He studied to ruin the most ancient families, inventing pretences to put great men to death, or disgrace them that he might plunder their possessions. Unhappy was the person he suspected to be rich, as wealth and vexatious accusations always accompanied each other. He established such exactions and abuses as no prior age had beheld, and by which now he is alone remembered. He took enormous emoluments and revenues for himself, while he disposed of money to others with a hand so sparing that even his own creatures felt severe poverty with empty titles, for he never allowed jágírs to any. The minds of high and low, rich and poor, near and distant, friends and strangers, were turned against him and wished his destruction. Hindús and Musulmáns agreed in praying to Heaven for the fall of his power, night and day. Often does the midnight sigh of the widow ruin the riches of a hundred years.
Kokaltásh Khán, foster-brother of Jahándár Sháh, and brought up with him from his childhood, was honoured with the title of Khán-Jahán. His wife, daughter, and whole family also possessed great influence with Jahándár, and claimed from him the performance of a promise he had made of the office of wazír. At the same time they and their adherents combined to work the overthrow of Zú-l fikár Khán Amíru-l umará. With this view all their relations and dependents were raised to a high rank, and a great number of the nobility, distressed by the pride and rapacity of Zú-l fikár Khán, joined their party. They insinuated to the Emperor that the Amíru-l umará entertained designs too ambitious for a subject, to attain which he would dare to shed the blood of princes; that he had already determined on a revolution, and either to seize the throne for himself, or if he found that too dangerous, to bestow it on one of the confined princes more favourable to his will than His Majesty.
The weak Jahándár, unendowed with the least judgment or courage, was alarmed almost to madness with the frightful picture of his own situation; but he had not firmness to oppose the dreaded evils, nor sense to keep his fears secret. The intrigues of Kokaltásh Khán soon became evident to the whole Court, and only served to stimulate the vigilance of Zú-l fikár Khán, who took measures for his own safety by removing his enemies. Rustam-dil Khán, Mukhlis Khán, and some others were put to death, and a great number of the nobility cast into confinement on various pretences. The family of the late Khán-khánán (Mun'im Khán) was reduced so low as to want the common necessaries of life. In short, the disposition of the Amíru-l umará changed altogether from gentleness to the highest pitch of tyranny, so that he now punished with cruelty the persons who had years before, knowingly or otherwise, given him the slightest causes of offence. I, who had differed with him in opinions during the life of the late Bedár Bakht, and frequently warned the late Emperor against his aspiring views, had also been the friend and confidant of his late mortal enemy, the Khán-khánán, and of a different party in the late struggle, had not a hope of escaping from his hands, or those of Jahándár Sháh, who had commanded me to be searched for and put to death.
Thinking it vain to attempt concealment in Láhore, I wrote the following verses: “I am of the family of 'Alí, * * * of the family of which thou art head: look not on me, but upon our mutual ancestors,” and sent them to him by my grandson, who was much in his favour. He invited me to see him, * * * and upon his solemn oath that he meant no injury to me, I went without dread. He received me in his private apartment, to which I was admitted armed as usual, and treated me in every way with much kindness, more than I had expected; after which he dismissed me with assurances of protection. He the same day asked the Emperor's pardon for me, which was immediately passed; but His Majesty observed, that though he forgave, he would not on any account employ me in his service. The Amíru-l umará, too, made me promise that I would not accept any office in the State otherwise than through his patronage. I complied with this desire without regret, as, independent of the obligations I owed to him, there was no temptation left to court employment in a state which had in fact no head; for the ministry was a collection of petty tyrants and abusers of power.