Whilst they were thus despairing of their success, it happened by the blessing of God, that one of the zambúraks or swivels of the royal army was discharged. It struck the Rájá of Andardún, who was standing in front of his army, on the head; his skull was knocked to pieces, and his brains scattered like the fragments of a cheese. When the Rájá's men saw this, they all took to flight. Nizám Khán, seeing that the infidels had suddenly dispersed, believed that some unforeseen event had occurred, and made a slight attack on them with his remaining troops. The infidels fled before them, and on advancing they found the Rájá of Andardún lying in the midst of dust and blood. They returned thanks to God, and sent news of the victory to 'Ádil Sháh, and counselled him to come speedily to Ujjain. His Majesty was astonished at the mysterious dispensations of Providence, and pursued the fugitives until he reached Ujjain. The Rájá's men resisted during three hours, but at last gave way; his wives and children were taken prisoners, and such spoil of horses, camels, elephants, gold, jewels, property, and clothes was obtained, that the soldiers had wherewithal to support themselves for years.
After this victory, 'Ádil Sháh passed some time in Málwá, and Ibráhím Khán at this time availed himself of the opportunity thus afforded, and extended his authority. Having collected much money from the different parganas of the provinces, he despatched his emissaries in all directions, and gained the whole country from Dehlí to Rohtás. When 'Ádil Sháh arrived from Málwá, and heard of the power and success of Ibráhím Khán, he was distressed. He felt satisfied that it would be necessary to proceed against him in person, and ordered the necessary preparations to be made for that purpose.
At this time, Mansúr Khán, who was a young man of great courage, and had married the King's younger sister, excited 'Ádil Sháh's suspicions. He was anxious to hinder him from revolting like Ibráhím Khán, and, therefore, determined either to blind him with a red-hot bodkin or slay him. His wife was by some means or other informed of this, and told her husband that “she had learnt in various places that 'Ádil Sháh was desirous of either putting him to death or blinding him, and that if he wished to save his life he had better fly.” Mansúr Khán had suspected this from the first. His wife said, “You have 4000 horse, who are your ancient servants: and I have much gold and property in jewels; let us sell it, and obtain adherents. As Ibráhím Khán forsook this place, and obtained such extensive authority by his courage, do you also, in like manner, not only avoid the chance of destruction, but increase your possessions.”
Mansúr Khán listened to the wife's advice, which was given in the spirit of a man; and one day, under the pretext of hunting, when informed by his spies that 'Ádil Sháh was in his cups, left Gwálior (having previously sent off his troops and baggage), and arrived at Dehlí, where he had an interview with Ibráhím, who entertained him hospitably for two or three days, after which he requested Ibráhím to give him charge of the Panjáb, and merit his gratitude by doing so, since it had pleased the Most High to make Ibráhím a man high in authority, and the possessor of an extensive territory. Ibráhím's youthful, overbearing pride led him to be displeased at this. Next day, Mansúr Khán sent his mother and wife to the wife of Ibráhím Khán, and told them to entreat her to persuade Ibráhím Khán to entrust the Panjáb to him. His wife and mother went there, and said to her* sister (the wife of Ibráhím), “You are like a mother to us. God has exalted you, and given you great possessions; and if through your means the land of the Panjáb be given by your husband to mine, I shall consider myself your slave, and my husband will become one of your servants.” The elder sister consented, and sent them away with a present of gold and jewels. At bedtime that evening she related what had happened to her husband. Ibráhím Khán's pride again caused him to refuse to listen to the request, and she, being vexed, arose and left him. In the morning the wife told her sister of the denial she had met with. Mansúr was enraged at this, and determined to have one trial of arms with Ibráhím Khán. He deliberated with his trusty Afgháns, and said, “What is the good of this life to me? If the Most High grants me success, my situation will be bettered; at all events, it will be better to die than remain in this wretched condition.”
As God had decreed that Mansúr Khán should be victorious, all the nobles and Afgháns of note joined him, and agreed with him in everything, so that he mustered 8000 horsemen. Ibráhím, however, commanded 30,000. Mansúr Khán made ready for war, and sent to Ibráhím to say, “Great friendship existed between us; but you have forsaken the path of affection, and it is unworthy of a man to be led away by pride, and forget the rules of courtesy. Let what will happen, I will come and essay one trial in arms against you.” Ibráhím laughed at this message, and said, “Why do you seek death beneath the feet of my elephants?” At last, on Friday, the 7th of Sha'bán, a severe action was fought.* It pleased the Almighty to overshadow the banners of Mansúr Khán, and Ibráhím, being routed, fled to Sambhal, in spite of his 30,000 cavalry and many elephants.* His troops deserted him, and came and pledged their allegiance to Mansúr Khán, who, after the victory, prostrated himself in thanksgiving on the field. He collected the army, the elephants, horses, treasures, and household property, etc., and came speedily to Dehlí, where he took possession of the throne, and issued orders for the reading of the khutba and coining of money in his own name. Ibráhím's overweening pride caused him to lose all his possessions, and he fled towards the East.
Mansúr Khán assumed the title of Sikandar,* and from that day [962 A.H. (1554 A.D.)] his prosperity increased.* 'Ádil Sháh ruled the country from Jaunpúr to Málwá. He endeavoured to wrest his conquests from Sikandar, but did not succeed. Sikandar agreed to own him as his liege lord, and wrote to him, saying, “I am a friend of yours, and will behave like one of the other nobles. You are my King.” In effect, he always treated 'Ádil Sháh with great consideration.*
At this time, three different khutbas were read in the empire of Hindústán, and money was coined in the names of three monarchs, when before there had been only one khutba and one person's name on the money. The country from Ágra to Málwá, and the confines of Jaunpúr, owned the sovereignty of 'Ádil Sháh; from Dehlí to the smaller Rohtás on the road to Kábul, it was in the hands of Sháh Sikandar; and from the borders of the hills to the boundaries of Gujarát, it belonged to Ibráhím Khán.*
When Humáyún Sháh received intelligence of the feeble rule of 'Ádil Sháh, the dissensions of the nobles, and the partition of the territories of Hind, he felt persuaded that the discordance which then existed amongst the Afgháns would enable him to take easy possession of Hindústán, and he therefore made up his mind to invade it. But his differences with his brothers, Mírzá Kámrán, 'Askarí, and others, who had wrested many of his territories from him, together with the small number and unprepared state of his troops, opposed great obstacles. He wished to go to Mariam Makání, and seek succour and assistance from her. On a prosperous day, he sent Khwája Mu'azzam and Bairam Khán to fetch Mariam Makání and Prince Akbar, who went with expedition and brought them. As the winds were exceedingly hot, Akbar Mírzá spent that time on the borders of Mahain. From thence King Humáyún set off with 200 men, Bairam Khán, Khwája Mu'azzam, Bábá-dost Bakhshí, Khwája Ghází, Muhammad Haidar Akhtabegí, Mírzá Kulí Beg and his brothers, Shaikh Yúsuf, Ibráhím the Lame, and Hasan Kulí, all nobles of note.