When the Almighty Creator wills that the world-adorning beauty of one of His elect should be impressed on the minds of mankind, He gives him daily-increasing dominion and also provides in His universal mercy that the generality of mankind who have neither far-reaching views nor far-seeing eyes may be brought into the right way and for this purpose He causes disaffection to arise in parts of the imperial domains, and then grants that this be composed by the elect one's excellent arrangements. Of necessity mankind do not assign such a result to use and wont, and acknowledge the wondrous wisdom and farsightedness. There was a fresh illustration of these remarks in the drowning of Pīr Muḥammad Khān, in Bāz Bahādur's regaining his sway, and in the second settlement of the province of Malwa. The account of this fortunate (the resettlement) event is as follows. When Adham Khān came to Agra in accordance with the Shāhinshāh's directions, the imperial messengers brought the news that Bāz Bahādur had come to the neighbourhood of Āwās* and was collecting troops. Pīr Muḥammad Khān, who was daring to rashness and whose courage surpassed his judgment prepared a force and went off there. Bāz Bahādur made little account of Pīr Muḥammad and came out to meet him, and gave battle. After a short struggle he was defeated and abundant booty fell into the hands of the conquerors. Pīr Muḥammad Khān went on from there to take Bījagarh.* 'Itimād Khān a servant of Bāz Bahādūr was in command there and he exerted himself to strengthen the fort. As it is in itself a paragon for loftiness and solidity the siege drew out to a long period. The exploit-loving heroes such as Jai Dīwāna, Yār 'Alī Bilūc, Dāīm Kokaltāsh, Maulānā Muḥtasham, Mulk Muḥammad and Mīrzā Ãfāq displayed acts of valour and made assaults upon the gate. One day Muḥammad Mīr Kātib made a strong attack and was the subject of universal commendation. At last one morning very early Khusrū Shāh, the head of Pīr Muḥammad's servants fixed scaling-ladders and got above the fort. Two hundred other heroes advanced at the true dawn. As the blackness of their overthrow had arrived, the garrison were negligent and asleep. The morning breeze of victory had begun to blow, when the enemy took to fighting. A battle took place and the heroes fought well. When the garrison got into difficulties they cried out for quarter and dispersed. At this time 'Itimād Khān was coming forward with one companion and crying out for quarter and asking to be taken to Pīr Muḥammad Khān. An arrow reached him and he went to non-existence. When 'Itimād Khān's companion saw this he drew his sword, and after fighting as long as he could he manfully died. A large number became the harvest of the sword. The leavings of the sword obtained quarter and brought out their lives from the whirlpool. An immense booty fell into the hands of the imperial servants. Pīr Muḥammad Khān waited there some days to put the fort in order and then went on towards Sulānpūr. After a short contest it was included within the imperial domains. From thence he returned to Bījāgarh. There he learned that Bāz Bahādur had taken refuge with Mīrān Mubārik Shāh, the ruler of Khandesh, and that Mīrān was adding his troops to Bāz Bahādūr's. Pīr Muḥammad Khān put the superfluous baggage of the army into the fort and took one thousand brave men with him and made a rapid march so that he might suddenly come to Āsīr and Burhānpūr and dispose of the collected enemy. He crossed the Narbada and marched forty kos in one night. Within two kos of Āsīr there was a fort, and in it there were war-elephants. The little fort was quickly taken possession of, and the elephants were made part of the booty. Mīrān had sent a force from Āsīr to defend the little fort. Pīr Muḥammad Khān had taken the fortlet, and was proceeding towards Burhānpūr, which is in Khāndes and is the residence of the ruler, when suddenly the dust of the enemy's army was seen in the distance. Pīr Muḥammad Khān detached Khusrū Shāh and Yār Ālī Biluc to dispose of the enemy. They soon dispersed the fee and put many to the sword and then returned. Next morning they reached Burhānpūr and committed much plundering there. An abundant supply of goods and money fell into the hands of each man. Mīrān remained in the fort of Āsir, and Pīr Muḥammad Khān judged it advisable to return.
Meanwhile news came that Bāz Bahādur had approached with the army of Khāndes which he had taken with him with the intention of attacking Bījāgarh. When he came there he learnt that Pīr Muḥammad Khān had moved swiftly with a small force and had gone to attack Āsīr and Burhānpūr. He was much disturbed and went off to that province. Just at the time when the men were loaded with booty and were returning, and a number of them had got separated, the news came that Bāz Bahādur was close at hand. Pīr Muḥammad Khan took counsel with men of experience. Most of them agreed that it was not a proper time to fight, for they had made great exertions* and gained victories and every one was laden with booty. The proper thing was to avoid fighting and to cross the Narbada. They could recruit themselves at Handia and collect fresh men and then set to work. As his fate had arrived Pir Muḥammad Khān did not listen to the honest words of the men of experience, and set his heart upon fighting. His comrades did not support him, and after a little fighting did not stand firm. Yār Ālī Biluc seized Pīr Muḥammad Khān's rein and forced him from the field as there was no use in staying longer. When they came to the bank of the Narbada it was near evening. Though his companions said that the enemy was far off, and that they should remain that night where they were, yet as the inevitable moment had arrived, the messengers of death made him restless and induced him to swim his horse across the Narbada. The bridle of reflection fell from his hand, and the reasonable words of the right thinking found no place in his reason's ear. Mounted as he was, he flung himself with confusion into the swellings of the Narbada (b'arba dar āb Narbada).
It chanced that a string of mules* was then crossing rapidly. They came near the horse and kicked it on the side. Pīr Muḥammad's horse, as well as his sense, departed from their place. He fell from his horse into the water, and his comrades who were close by, did not in their wickedness exert themselves to draw him out of that whirlpool of destruction. He was drowned and went to the ocean of annihilation, either as a retribution for the oppression which he had committed in this expedition, or for his conduct in Tardī Beg Khān's battle, or for some other deed known to the knower of secrets.* By heaven's decree so loyal, able, and gallant a man underwent such a fate.
Where destiny is powerful The stronger is all the weaker
When the day of darkness shows its face Two world-seeing eyes make a gloom.
Thus in spite of his power and greatness, he strayed away from deliberation and with his own feet fell into the whirlpool of destruction. Qīyā Khān Kang, Shāh Muḥammad Qilātī, Ḥabīb 'Alī Khān, and a number of other officers who had fiefs in the province gave up heart and went off to the world-protecting court. Each of them received punishment suitable to his deserts, and Bāz Bahādūr became possessed of Malwa. The world-conquering fortune of the Shāhinshāh saw that the proper course was to appoint a high officer who should possess excellent sense as well as abundant courage, and perfect energy together with judicial calm. Therefore 'Abdullah Khān Uzbeg, who was ranked among the magnanimous riskers of their lives, and who had been formerly in that country, and was familiar with its nature, was nominated for the conquest of Malwa. The order was given that he should have the power of life* and death.