The Emperor had several sons born to him, but none of them had lived. Shaikh Salím Chishtí, who resided at the town of Síkrí, twelve kos from Ágra, had gladdened him with the promise of a son. The Emperor went to visit the Shaikh several times, and remained there ten or twenty days on each occasion. He commenced a fine building there on the top of a hill, near the Shaikh's monastery. The Shaikh also commenced a new monastery and a fine mosque, which at the present day has no equal in the world, near the royal mansion. The amírs also built houses and mansions for themselves. When one of the Emperor's wives became pregnant, he conveyed her to the dwelling of the Shaikh, and left her there. Sometimes he stayed there himself, sometimes at Ágra. He gave the name of Fathpúr to Síkrí, and built a bázár and baths there.
This is a strong fortress, and many former Sultáns had been ambitious of taking it. Sher Khán Afghán (Sher Sháh) besieged it for a year, but was killed in the attempt to take it, as has been narrated in the history of his reign. During the interregnum of the Afgháns, Rájá Ram Chandar* had purchased the fort at a high price from Bijilli* Khán, the adopted son (pisar-i khwánda) of Bihár Khán Afghán. The renown of the conquest of the forts of Chitor and Rantambhor spread through the world, and the men of the Imperial army who held jágírs in the neighbourhood of Kálinjar were constantly forming plans for the capture of that fort, and were anxious to begin the war. Rájá Rám Chandar was a prudent and experienced man, and considered himself an adherent of the Imperial throne. He sent by his envoy the keys of the fortress and suitable offerings, with congratulations for the victories achieved, to the Emperor. On the same day the custody of the fortress was given into the charge of Majnún Khán Kákshál, one of the jágírdárs of that quarter, and a friendly farmán was sent to Rájá Rám Chandar. The fortress came into the possession of the Emperor in the month of Safar, 977 H., in the fourteenth year of his reign.
On Wednesday, 18th of Rabí'u-l awwal, 977 H., and the fourteenth year of the reign, when seven hours of the day had passed, the exalted prince Sultán Salím Mirzá was born in the house of Shaikh Salím Chishtí, in the town of Fathpúr. The Emperor himself was in Ágra at the time, and the joyful tidings was conveyed to him by Shaikh Ibráhím, son-in-law of Shaikh Salím, who was right royally rewarded. In thanksgiving for this happy event, gifts were distributed among the people, prisoners were set free, and great feasts were held, which were kept up for seven days with great pleasure and rejoicing. The date of the birth is found in the words Sháh-i ál i Tímúr. Khwája Husain composed an ode, of which the first line contained the date of the Emperor's accession, and the second the date of the prince's birth. The Khwája received a present of two lacs of tankas for this ode, and several other poets received rewards for their productions. The Emperor made Fathpúr* a royal abode, raised a stone fortification round it, and built some splendid edifices, so that it became a great city. Before the prince was born, the Emperor had resolved in his own mind, that if the Almighty granted his wishes, he would go a pilgrimage on foot to the shrine of Murádu-l anwar Kutbu-l wásilín Khwája Mu'ínu-d dín Chishtí. Having prepared his offerings, on Friday, the 12th Sha'bán, 977, he started on foot from Ágra for Ajmír. Every day he travelled seven or eight kos. He visited the shrine, and performed the usual observances immediately upon his arrival. He passed some days there, and then left Ajmír for Dehlí, where he arrived in Ramazán, 977.
The beginning of this year corresponded with Saturday, the 6th Shawwál, 977 H. (14th March, 1570). * * * On Thursday, the 3rd Muharram, 978, the star of good fortune shone, and the Emperor had another son, Prince Murád, borne to him in the house of Shaikh Salím. In gratitude for this blessing, he opened the hand of liberality, and gave away many munificent gifts, and men were enriched by his bounty. The nobles and officers of the Court presented offerings suitable to their respective ranks, and received robes of honour. Mauláná Kásim Arslán on this occasion wrote a couplet, of which the first line contained the date of the birth of Prince Salím, and the second that of Prince Murád.
The Emperor was accustomed, wherever he might be, to pay a visit every year to the tomb of Mu'ínu-l hakk wau-d dín Hasan Sanjarí at Ajmír. In this happy year, on the 8th Rabí'u-l ákhir, 978, he started for that place, in order to show his gratitude for the boon granted to him. He stayed twelve days at Fathpúr, in order to make some necessary arrangements for his journey. He arrived at Ajmír in due course. To show his favour, and to improve the condition of the place, he ordered a strong wall to be built round it, and a palace to be erected in it for his own residence. The amírs and kháns, and attendants of the Court, vied with each other in erecting dwellings there. He distributed the villages and lands and houses of Ajmír among his amírs, to enable them to pay the expenses of the new buildings. On Friday, 4th Jumáda-l ákhir, he left Ajmír, and arrived in sight of Nágor on the 16th. Here there is a large tank, which he ordered his soldiers to dig and fill with water. He himself inspected the tank, and gave it the name of Shukr taláo.
While he was thus staying at Nágor, Chandar Sen, son of Ráí Máldeo* came to pay his allegiance, and make his offerings. Rájá Kalyán Mal, the Rájá of Bikanír, also came with his son, Ráí Singh, to wait upon His Majesty, and present his tribute. The loyalty and sincerity of both father and son being manifest, the Emperor married Kalyán Mal's daughter. For fifty days he shed the light of his justice and equity upon the poor people of Nágor. From thence he proceeded to Ajodhan, to pay a visit to the tomb of Shaikh Farídu-d dín Mas'ud Ganj-i shakar. Ráí Kalyán Mal, who was so fat that he could not ride on horseback, now received permission to return to Bikanír; but his son was ordered to remain in attendance upon His Majesty, in which he received high promotion, as will be related in the proper place.
There were many wild asses (gor-khar) in this desert country, and His Majesty, who had never hunted this animal, was desirous of doing so. One day as he was journeying on, the scouts brought information that there was a herd of wild asses in the vicinity of the camp. He immediately mounted a fleet courser, and after a ride of four or five kos, came in sight of the herd. He got off his horse, and commanded all his followers to remain quiet. He himself, with four or five Bilúchís, who were acquainted with the country, approached the herd with guns in their hands. At the first shot he struck an ass, and the remainder of the herd, being frightened by the noise, dispersed. His Majesty cautiously approached, and struck another, and so on, until sixteen asses fell by his hand. That day he travelled nearly seventeen kos in hunting, and at the close returned to the camp. By his order the sixteen asses were brought to the camp in carts, and their flesh was distributed in front of the royal tent among the amírs and courtiers. Then he proceeded towards Ajodhan; and on arriving in sight of the place, he went on immediately, and performed all the ceremonies of pilgrimage, and distributed his bounty among the poor. * * *
From thence he proceeded towards Lahore, and when he arrived at Dípálpúr, the jágírdár of that pargana, Mirzá 'Azíz Muhammad Kokaltásh, who bore the title of 'Azam Khán, and was well known as Mirzá Koka, prepared an entertainment, and begged him to stay there a few days and rest. His Majesty graciously consented, and remained there. For some days feasting went on, and upon the last day splendid offerings were presented to him. Arab and Persian horses, with saddles of silver; huge elephants, with chains of gold and silver, and housings of velvet and brocade; and gold and silver, and pearls and jewels, and rubies and garnets of great price: chairs of gold, and silver vases, and vessels of gold and silver; stuffs of Europe, Turkey, and China, and other precious things beyond all conception. Presents of similar kind also were presented for the young princes and the Emperor's wives. All the ministers and attendants and dignitaries received presents, and every soldier of the army also participated in the bounty.