The Sultán arrived at Asáwal and had to stay there about a month, on account of the ill-condition of his horses and the fall of rain. While the rains were still prevailing, news came from Nahrwála that Taghí had marched from thence with a party of horse towards Asáwal and had arrived at the town of Karra. The Sultán marched from Asáwal in the very height of the rains, and on the third or fourth day reached Karra. Next day he drew out his forces and attacked the rebel. Taghí, on seeing the approach of the royal force, plied his men with wine and made them drunk. The foreign horsemen (sawárí sadí) then made an impetuous and reckless charge with their drawn swords on the royal forces, but they were encountered by the elephants and overthrown. They then ran among the trees, dispersed and fled towards Nahrwála. Several were made prisoners, and all the baggage fell into the hands of the victors. Four or five hundred men, combatants and non-combatants,* were taken with the baggage, and were all put to the sword. The Sultán then placed the son of Malik Yúsuf Baghrá at the head of a force, and sent him in pursuit of the fugitives, but night came on, so he and his troops halted to rest. Taghí, with his remaining horsemen, reached Nahrwála; there he collected all his family and dependents, and proceeded to Kant-baráhí,* where he stayed some days. From thence he wrote to the Ráí of Karnál, imploring assistance in his flight, and proceeded to Karnál. Then he went to Thatta and Damríla, where he found refuge.
Two or three days after, the Sultán arrived at Nahrwála, and alighted at the garden of the reservoir of Sahsílang. There he applied himself to settling the affairs of Gujarát. The mukaddims, the ránas, and the mahants of Gujarát, came in and paid their homage, and received robes and rewards. In a short time the inhabitants who had been scattered abroad returned to their homes and were delivered from the ravages of the rebels. Several of Taghí's chief supporters left him and went to the Rána of Mandal and Terí,* but that chief slew them and sent their heads to the Sultán. He also seized upon all their wives and children. For this service he received robes and rewards, and being so favoured he came to the Court.
While the Sultan was engaged in settling the affairs of the country, and was about to enter Nahrwála, news came from Deogír that Hasan Kángú and other rebels, who had fled before the royal army in the day of battle, had since attacked 'Imádu-l Mulk, and had slain him and scattered his army. Kiwámu-d dín and other nobles left Deogír and went towards Dhár. Hasan Kángú then proceeded to Deogír and assumed royal dignity. Those rebels who had fled before the Sultán's army to the summit of Dhárágír, now came down, and a revolution was effected in Deogír. When intelligence of this reached the Sultán's ears, he was very disheartened, for he saw very well that the people were alienated. No place remained secure, all order and regularity were lost, and the throne was tottering to its fall.
During the months of the Sultán's stay at Nahrwála no one was sent to execution (siyásat). He summoned Ahmad Ayyáz and other nobles, with an army, from the capital, with the intention of sending them to Deogír, and they, having made every preparation, came to the Sultán. But news now arrived that Hasan Kángú had drawn together a large force at Deogír. The Sultán therefore did not deem it advisable to send them there, and gave up the idea of attacking it. He determined that he would free Gujarát, take Karnál, and put down the traitor Taghí; after which he would march to Deogír, overthrow the rebels, and remove every cause of trouble and anxiety. In pursuance of this plan he first directed his attention to the taking of Karnál and the fort of Khankár.* The mukaddims of Deogír, who had come from that place to wait upon the Sultán, now saw that the business of their country was postponed; so they went off by ones and twos, and, meeting at a rendezvous, they returned to Deogír.
The success of the rebels, and the loss of Deogír, greatly troubled the king. One day, while he was thus distressed, he sent for me, the author of this work, and, addressing me, said: “My kingdom is diseased, and no treatment cures it. The physician cures the headache, and fever follows; he strives to allay the fever, and something else* supervenes. So in my kingdom disorders have broken out; if I suppress them in one place they appear in another; if I allay them in one district another becomes disturbed. What have former kings said about these disorders?” I replied, “Histories record many remedies which kings have employed in these disorders. Some kings, when they have perceived that they do not retain the confidence of their people, and have become the objects of general dislike, have abdicated their thrones and have given over the government to the most worthy of their sons. Retiring into privacy, and occupying themselves in innocent pursuits, they have passed their time in the society of sympathizing friends, without troubling themselves about matters of government. Other kings, when they have found themselves the objects of general aversion, have taken to hunting, pleasure, and wine, leaving all the business of the State to their wazírs and officers, and throwing off all concern in them. If this course seems good* to the people, and the king is not given to revenge, the disorders of the State may be cured. Of all political ills, the greatest and most dire is a general feeling of aversion and a want of confidence among all ranks of the people.” The Sultán replied, “If I can settle the affairs of my kingdom according to my wish, I will consign my realm of Dehlí to three persons, Fíroz Sháh, Malik Kabír, and Ahmad Ayyáz, and I will then proceed on the pilgrimage to the holy temple. At present I am angry with my subjects, and they are aggrieved with me. The people are acquainted with my feelings, and I am aware of their misery and wretchedness. No treatment that I employ is of any benefit. My remedy for rebels, insurgents, opponents, and disaffected people is the sword. I employ punishment and use the sword, so that a cure may be effected by suffering. The more the people resist, the more I inflict chastisement.”
When the Sultán gave up Deogír and applied himself to the
settlement of Gujarát, he passed three rainy seasons in that
country. The first he passed at Mandal and Terí,*
devoting his
time to the affairs of the country and the equipment of his army.
The second he passed near the fort of Karnál. When the mukad-