The Emperor learnt from the letters of the nazir and news-writer with Prince Muhammad Kam Bakhsh, —“After the capture of fort Jinji, Nusrat Jang Khan made a request to the prince to march and halt cauti­ously as there were more than 50,000 cavalry of the enemy around [the Mughal force]. The prince display­ing roughness answered, ‘I am my own master. I shall march whenever I like’—till at last the matter passed into unpleasantness. The Khan gave up waiting on the prince in his Court, and interviewed him [only] when riding out. On Wednesday, the 9th Ziqada [=13th July, 1692] at noon when the prince had dismounted in his own camp, he sent a slave to call the Khan, and the latter delayed coming. Four slaves came in quick succession. At this juncture the Khan's spies brought him news that the prince had formed a plan with his foster-brother to imprison the Khan. Also from the letter of the nazir it became known that this report was true. The Khan called together the [news]-writers, took them as his witnesses, himself with Rao Dalpat Bundela went riding on elephants to inside the screen (jali) [of the prince's quarters], and pulled down the prince's Court-tent with the elephant's trunk. The prince, on seeing this, wanted to flee to his harem. But Rao Dalpat coming up seized both his hands, and pulling him by the sleeves dragged him to the elephant of the Khan, who made a sign to Dalpat to seat the prince on his own elephant. So in that manner four marches were made, the prince remaining with Rao Dalpat day and night and staying in his tent.”

After reading the sheet, the Emperor wrote on it: (Verse)

“A slave-girl's son comes to no good,
Even though he may have been begotten by a king.

What reform could Noah (on the prophets and on him be peace!) effect in his disobedient son, that I can succeed [in the same work]? Nusrat Jang Khan is not without wisdom. Whosoever speaks ill of him is himself a bad man. As for bringing this worthless [prince], the leader of the wicked, let Nusrat Jang Khan accompany (i.e., escort) him up to Bijapur, and thereafter entrust him to the prime-minister. Send a farman to the governor of Bijapur, to give him an escort of one thousand cavalry and send him to me. Nusrat Jang Khan should go to guard the newly con­quered territory, such as fort Jinji and other places. When I send him a farman, he will come to me.” On the margin of the petition, His Majesty wrote, “For the sake of a son who, agreeably with the verse ‘He is your enemy’, has been proved and ascertained to be an enemy,—why should I quarrel with my friends, among whom a good servant is reckoned one? Espe­cially when that servant is a near kinsman, being the son of my maternal aunt, and regard for the friendli­ness due to kindred is proper.” [MS. N. adds,—On the margin he wrote, “Plato has said, ‘Your friends are three: the sharer of your salt (e.i., meals), the sharer of your danger, and the companion of your travels.’”]

Text.–Ir. MS. 22a & b, MS. N. 27b–29a.

Notes.–Kam Bakhsh, the youngest and petted son of Aurangzib and Udaipuri Mahal, (born 24 February, 1667) joined the siege of Jinji on 16th Dec., 1691, the real commanders being Asad Khan and his son Nusrat Jang. The fort fell on 7th January, 1698. But about 28th Dec. 1692 Kam Bakhsh, for his opposition to the two generals and intrigue with the enemy, was arrested and sent to the Court, where he arrived on 14th June, 1693 (M. A. 355-359). See History of Aurangzib, vol. v. ch. 51.