Prince Murád Bakhsh had received many arrow wounds in his face and body. Aurangzeb first applied to them the salve of praise and compliment, and then had them dressed by skilful surgeons. To the internal wounds of that weak-minded * Prince he applied the balm of thousands of praises and congratulations upon (his approaching) sovereignty. Then he wiped away the tears and blood from his brother's cheek with the sleeve of condolence. It is said that the howda in which Murád Bakhsh rode was stuck as thick with arrows as a porcupine with quills, so that the ground of it was not visible. This howda was kept in the store-house in the fort of the capital as a curiosity, and as a memorial of the bravery of that descendant of the house of Tímúr, and there it remained till the time of the Emperor Farrukh Siyar. * *

Dárá Shukoh, with two thousand horse, many of whom were wounded, and without baggage, arrived at Ágra in the evening without torches. He proceeded to his own house, and shame and remorse for his ruined fortune would not allow him to visit his father. The Emperor sent for him, professing a desire to talk and take counsel with him, but he excused himself. In the same night, after the third watch, he went out of the city towards Dehlí, intending to proceed to Láhore. He took with him Sipihr Shukoh, his wife and daughter and several attendants. He also carried off on elephants, camels and mules, his jewels, gold, silver, necessaries, and whatsoever he could. In the third day's march he was joined by nearly 5000 horse, and some nobles and equipments, which were sent after him by his father.

After resting a while from his victory, Aurangzeb addressed a letter to the Emperor [recounting what had passed], and excusing himself by referring all to the will of God. Soon afterwards, Muhammad Amín Khán, and Khán-Jahán, son of Ásaf Khán, with many other nobles, who were the props of the State, came and proffered their services to Aurangzeb, and he honoured them with gifts of robes and jewels, horses and elephants. On the 10th Ramazán Aurangzeb marched from Samúgarh for Ágra, and encamped outside the city. There he received from his father a consolatory letter written in his own hand. Next day Kudsiya Pádsháh Begam, by command of her father, came out to her brother, and spake to him some words of kindness and reproach by way of advice and as a proof of affection. The answer she received was contrary to what she had wished, and she returned. The Emperor then wrote another admonitory letter, and with a sword which bore upon it the auspicious name “Álamgír” (world-conqueror), he sent it with kind messages by one of his personal attendants to Aurangzeb. The word “Álamgír” immediately attracted notice. It was deemed a good omen, and called forth congratulations. Aurangzeb then sent Prince Muhammad Sultán to restore order in the city, to rescue it from the violence and oppression of the army and the mob, and to give peace to the people. To Khán-Jahán, son of Ásaf Khán, he gave the title of Amíru-l umará, * * and many of the other nobles who had come to wait upon him were rewarded with increase of rank and presents of money and jewels. * *

Confinement of Sháh Jahán.

[vol. ii. p. 32.] The authors of the three 'Álamgír-námas have each described the seclusion of the Emperor Sháh Jahán by the will of Aurangzeb, but 'Ákil Khán Kháfí, in his Wáki'át-i 'Álamgírí has entered fully and particularly into matters, and has described the investment of the fort (of Ágra), the confine­ment of Sháh Jahán, the closing up of the waters (band-namú-dan-i áb),* and the somewhat bitter correspondence which passed. From this it appears that on the 17th Ramazán, 1068 (8th June, 1658), Aurangzeb directed Prince Muhammad Sultán to go into the fort of Ágra, and to place some of his trusty followers in charge of the gates. Afterwards he was directed to wait upon his grandfather, to deliver to him some agreeable and disagreeable messages respecting his retirement, and to cut off from him all means of intercourse with the outside. Accord­ingly Prince Muhammad Sultán went in and acted according to his instructions. He took from the Emperor all power and choice in matters of rule and government, and placed him in seclusion.

Muhammad Ja'far Khán was sent to secure Mewát, which formed part of the jágír of Dárá Shukoh. Twenty-six lacs of rupees, with some other requirements of royalty, were presented to Murád Bakhsh. On the 22nd Ramazán Aurangzeb made his entry into Ágra, and took up his abode in the house of Dárá Shukoh. * *

Flight of Dárá Shukoh.

[vol. ii. p. 33.] When Dárá Shukoh reached the vicinity of Dehlí, the close pursuit of Aurangzeb's forces, and the appre­hension of being shut up in the city, determined him to remain outside. There he employed himself in gathering money and supplies. Whatever he found in the royal stores, or in the houses of the amírs, he laid hands upon. He remained some days awaiting the arrival of Sulaimán Shukoh, who, after his defeat of Shujá', was wandering about in Bihár and Patna in a state of perplexity—for the news of the success of Aurangzeb frightened him from going to join his father. Dárá, perceiving that if he remained longer he would fall a prisoner into the harsh hands of his brother, marched off towards the Panjáb with the new army which had gathered round him, numbering about 10,000 horse. Every day he wrote letters to Sulaimán Shukoh, describing his wretched condition and his approach­ing arrival at Sirhind and Láhore. He also wrote conciliatory letters to the faujdárs and governors of the Panjáb, in which he mingled promises and threats. He repeatedly wrote to his father, lamenting his inability to wait upon him, through his adverse fortune and the unhappy dissension between the two brothers and their respective adherents.

Aurangzeb also frequently resolved to go and see his father, to make excuses, and to seek forgiveness of the offences of which he had been guilty, by no choice of his own, but through the divine decrees of fate, and the unseemly conduct of his brother. But he knew that his father's feelings were strongly in favour of Dárá Shukoh, and that under the influence of destiny he lost all self-control, so he determined that it was better not to pay the visit. Instead of going himself, he directed Prince Muhammad A'zam to go and wait upon the Emperor with many apologies. The Prince accordingly presented 500 ashrafís and 4000 rupees; and the Emperor, half in joy, half in anger, took the Prince to his bosom, and shed tears over him as he embraced him.

Aurangzeb next turned his attention to the pursuit of Dárá Shukoh. He left Prince Muhammad Sultán with * * * to attend upon the Emperor, and he appointed Islám Khán to be the Prince's director (atálík). * * On the 22nd Ramazán he started in pursuit of his brother. On his way he learnt that Dárá had left Dehlí on the 21st Ramazán, and had gone towards Láhore. * * * He sent Khán-daurán to supersede Saiyid Kásim Bárha in command of the fortress of Alláhábád. If the Saiyid gave over the fortress, he was to be treated with courtesy and sent to Aurangzeb; if he refused to yield, Khán-daurán was directed to invest the fortress, and to call for reinforcements if necessary.

Sháh Jahán, while in confinement, wrote secretly to Mahábat Khán, Governor of Kábul [a long letter, in which he said]: “Dárá Shukoh is proceeding to Láhore. There is no want of money in Láhore, there is abundance of men and horses in Kábul, and no one equal to Mahábat Khán in valour and generalship. The Khán ought therefore to hasten with his army to Láhore, and, having there joined Dárá Shukoh, they might march against the two undutiful sons, to inflict upon them the due reward of their misconduct, and to release the Emperor, the Sáhib Kirán-i sání, from prison.” * *