When Hímún saw the large force of the enemy he was dis­turbed, because he had only brought 3000 horsemen with him, and many of his men were wounded. He came to the conclusion that he could not cope with the foe by day. He said, “If you, who are warriors, are of this opinion, which has firm possession of me, we may hope for success.” All the Afgháns said, “Your opinion is ours.” Hímún said, “I advise a night attack to be made on their army, let what may happen.” He then picked out one body of 2500 horsemen, and kept 1000 himself,* with the intention of attacking the enemy from two different quarters, with kettle-drums sounding, during the last watch of the night, and putting them all to the sword.

With this view he prepared his men for the attack. The enemy remained on the alert during three watches of the night; but in the last watch they grew negligent, and fell asleep. When they were overpowered by drowsiness, the soldiers of 'Ádil Sháh fell furiously on them on all sides, and awoke them with the sound of drums and trumpets. Hímún did not give them time to put on their armour, and the Afgháns, sword in hand, passed through their army, slaughtering all they met, and many also fell by the hands of their comrades. They took to flight, and suffered severe loss from His Majesty's troops.

When Junaid Khán saw that he was unsuccessful, he thought himself lucky in being able to save his life, and fled alone to the desert; all who were not cut to pieces also saved themselves by flight. The spoil which this victory granted by the Almighty yielded, amounted to 200 camels, with daggers and swords in­numerable. A portion of this was given to the army as a reward for its valour, the remainder was forwarded to 'Ádil Sháh. Hímún despatched an account of the victory to His Majesty two days before he set forth himself. He then went to Court, taking the plunder with him, and gave a detailed account of the war and of his victories, and showed the articles of booty one by one to the King. He then stood with folded hands in front of the throne. 'Ádil Sháh honoured him with a purple khil'at, the collar and skirt of which were covered with jewels. Hímún said, “I am a miserable shopkeeper, and can of myself do nothing. To Your Majesty's good fortune this success is due. But the swords and bravery of these soldiers are the means. Your Majesty should first recompense them.” The King praised this speech, and rewarded all those who had distinguished themselves in the field, by giving them high mansabs and splendid dresses of honour.

On account of this war, Hímún's power increased greatly. One day, at the time at which the King was in the habit of quitting his private apartments, the nobles were seated in the Darbár-i'ámm, and jágírs were being distributed. Ibráhím Khán, who had married 'Ádil Sháh's sister, entered, and all the amírs rose to salute him, with the exception of Táj Khán, one of the chief nobles as well as warriors, who remained sitting in his place. Ibráhím Khán was vexed at this, and became inimically disposed towards Táj Khán. Some days after this, Táj Khán went to pay his respects to 'Ádil Sháh. The day was very cloudy, and he was assaulted by an Afghán, named Nizám Khán, in the doorway of the audience chamber, which was itself a dark place, independent of the darkness which the clouds occasioned. He was, however, only slightly wounded. Táj Khán attributed this attempt to Ibráhím and 'Ádil Sháh. When, after a week or so, his wounds were healed, he made ready his adherents, and advanced from Gwálior in the direction of Bengal. Information of this was soon conveyed to 'Ádil Sháh, who sent a large force to pursue him, and much fighting took place. Táj Khán forced his way, sword in hand, and the royal troops returned. After this, Táj Khán went to Ahmad Khán, who was governor of Jaunpúr, and a relation of his. 'Ádil Sháh sent a farmán, enjoining him to induce Táj Khán to come back, seeing that the cause of his displeasure did not originate with the King, but was entirely owing to his enemies. Ahmad Khán did all he could to persuade Táj Khán, who, however, would not listen to him.*

'Ádil Sháh's suspicions caused divers of the nobles to be inimical to him. He put Daulat Khán Jalwání and Fíroz Khán Kákar to death, and pulled up the root of his empire with his own hands by killing these two amírs, who were the pillars of his monarchy. He then began to entertain evil intentions towards Nasíb Khán Sarwání, Isma'íl Khán, Alláh-dád Khán Míána, and Nizám Khán Sáhú-khail, and he became daily more ill-disposed towards the nobles. 'Ádil Sháh's sister, the wife of Ibráhím Khán, went one day to her brother's house, and learned from some of the women there, who had long been friends of hers, that the King was ill-disposed towards her husband, and meditated some evil design against him. She being very fond of her husband, was much distressed at this news, left the palace in a hurry, and went to her own house, where she told what she had heard to Ibráhím, who, being seized with a panic, fled from Gwálior and went to Dehlí. When 'Ádil Sháh was informed of his departure, he sent a large army in pursuit of him, and a battle took place near Ágra. The King's forces sustained a total defeat, and Ibráhím Khán marched victorious into Ágra.*

Jalál Khán, who was in the province of Sirhind, also joined Ibráhím Khán, and made over to him all the money which had been collected from the parganas of that province. Mahmúd Khán Púndak, Nizám Khán, and Alif Khán likewise allied themselves with him, so that he mustered about 3000 cavalry. He caused the khutba to be read and coin to be struck in his name, and raised the standard of rebellion. Whilst this was going on, 'Ádil Sháh had gone to the treasury of Chunár; but when he heard of the insurrection of Ibráhím Khán, he marched to Gwálior, and released Nasíb Khán and Alláh-dád Khán, whom he had imprisoned. He then treated them kindly, gave them rich purple dresses of honour, and 80,000 rupees for their expenses, and did his best to please them. At the time of their departure he presented them with an elephant, a girdle and a dagger, and sent them against Ibráhím. These two nobles pro­ceeded in great state from Gwálior to Dehlí, but they too joined Ibráhím Khán. When 'Ádil Sháh was informed of their joining the rebels, he lost heart, because these two men of name had sided with his foe.

At this period, the Rájá of Andardún, seeing the disordered state of the King's affairs, revolted in Ujjain. 'Ádil Sháh reached Gwálior by uninterrupted marches; and when the Rájá was informed of the King's coming, he left his nephew Tárá Chand with a portion of his army in Ujjain, and advanced him­self two kos from Ujjain with a numerous force to meet the royal troops. 'Ádil Sháh appointed Nizám Khán Súr and Fath Khán Sarwání to oppose him. They attacked him with their brave Afgháns. At first, the Rájá's valour had such an effect that some of the best Afgháns obtained martyrdom, and the Sultán's army were on the point of running away. 'Ádil Sháh possessed two elephants, in whose powers of travelling he had great confi­dence, and two fleet steeds, and he determined to fly to Chunár with all the royal jewels in the event of the defeat of Nizám Khán and Fath Khán. Nizám Khán and Fath Khán had like­wise resolved to leave the field, as they had lost many men by the hands of the infidels, and could not hope to do anything with the few who remained.