It so happened that when the mango season was approaching, Daulat Khán had sent half-ripe mangoes preserved in pots of honey, and betel-leaves, by the hand of Ahmad Khán. The King was told that Ahmad Khán, the ambassador of Daulat Khán, desired an audience. Diláwar took the offerings into the royal presence, and displayed them. When Bábar's eyes fell on the fruit, he arose from his throne, and prostrated himself before the Almighty, who, he was persuaded, of His boundless generosity, had granted him the sovereignty of Hind. He gave a horse and khil'at to both Diláwar Khán and Ahmad Khán, and entrusted to them ten 'Irákí horses, and some pieces of fine linen for Daulat Khán; and then directed Ahmad Khán to precede him with these articles.*
From that day he prepared for the invasion of Hindústán, and despatched Jahángír Kúlí Khán, with 2000 Mughal horsemen, to take precautions for securing the roads and ferries, and for the collection of timber for the purpose of making boats.
On Wednesday, 2nd Shawwál, A.H. 932 (July, 1526 A.D.), he set forth as a mighty monarch should, and marched to Pesháwar, which city he plundered. When the royal army advanced from thence, Daulat Khán came to pay his respects to the King, and presented 10,000 gold ashrafís and twenty elephants. When Bábar left Kábul, he had only 2000 Mughals with him.* But after his agreement with Daulat Khán, he ordered fresh troops to be enlisted; and by the time he reached Lahore he was surrounded by a numerous army, and the Panjáb fell into the hands of the Chaghatáí nobles.
When news reached Sultán Ibráhím, in Ágra, that the Mughals had conquered the Panjáb as far as Lahore, he was thunderstruck, and repented him of having put his faithful servants to death. But what benefit can be derived from water which has fallen down from the head and been spent? Bábar, like a roaring lion, advanced into the field; while Ibráhím came to Dehlí from Ágra, and wrote to Daulat Khán, saying, “You attained your present rank through my father's kindness; why have you brought the Mughals into my paternal inheritance, and made it over to them? I will now make peace with you, and will never molest you or your children. I swear this on the Kurán. Reflect, and abandon your present absurd project.” Daulat Khán replied, “It is true that I was reared and raised from the dust, and brought up by Sultán Sikandar. I passed my life in endeavouring to serve him. That monarch (who has found mercy) endured much from his nobles; he was studious of pleasing: and he never endeavoured to put me to death. Whereas, whilst you were yet young, you listened to what two or three insidious advisers said to you, and thus shook your empire to its foundation. You also destroyed several of your father's servants, the pillars of the kingdom, and put an end to the confidence which others reposed in you. I have not brought the Mughals; but your own bad actions have.”
When the whole Panjáb, and the country extending as far as Sirhind and Hisár Fírozah, had fallen into the hands of the Chaghatáí nobles, they marched towards Dehlí.
Sultán Ibráhím was in Sonpath, when news arrived that certain grandees, thinking the opportunity a good one, and having heard of the coming of Bábar Sháh, had besieged Dehlí with nearly 40,000 men. On hearing this, the Sultán again turned his steps towards Dehlí, to defeat the rebels, who came to the conclusion that it would be improper to fight with the Sultán during the day, because they would be put to shame on account of the benefits which he had conferred on them; and that it would be preferable to attack him by night.*
When the night was far spent, they reached the Sultán's army, and in the mean time several chiefs managed to escape from the Sultán's camp and join them. After putting the Sultán's troops to flight, and compelling the Sultán to conceal himself, a portion of the rebel force was scattered tumultuously in search of plunder. After sunrise, when the Sultán looked out in the direction of the rebel army, on observing 'Álam Khán* and a few attendants standing near, he ordered his men to attack them; upon which they all fled away. Thus the rebels derived no benefit from their disloyalty, in spite of their having assembled a force of 40,000 men.
After this, when Bábar heard of the confusion prevailing in the Sultán's army, he left Karnál, and Sultán Ibráhím arrived in pargana Ganaur, and there inquired of the astrologers in order that he might learn from the celestial bodies what was to happen. He inquired on whose side the victory should be. The astrologers cautiously replied, “It appears from the motion of the stars that the whole of our horses and elephants have gone over to the Mughal army.” The Sultán said, “This is a proof that I shall vanquish the Mughals.” They replied, “So let it be.”
The astrologers, being aware that Bábar would be victorious, deserted the camp. Amín Khán also fled from the same place, and presented himself before Bábar. Whilst these events were going on, Hamíd Khán, of the Sultán's own tribe, was coming to the assistance of the Sultán with 4000 sawárs, when he encountered the advance-guard under Prince Muhammad Humáyún, and a battle began, in which Hamíd Khán's troops being defeated, many were killed, and the rest dispersed.
On Thursday the Sultán summoned all his nobles and soldiers, and ordered them to dress themselves in the best clothes they had with them. He caused his embroidered tents and satin canopies to be erected, and all the preparations for a festival to be made. He threw amongst them all the gold, jewels, pearls, and ashrafís which he possessed, and said, “O friends, to-morrow we shall do battle with the Mughal army. If I gain the victory, I will endeavour to please you; if I do not, be at least content with these presents and my declared intentions.”* The whole of that day was spent in feasting and rejoicing. On the morrow they made ready for war. Sultán Ibráhím, on the one side, marched two kos to the west of Pánípat; whilst Bábar, on the other, mounting his horse at the saráí of Garaunda, chose his position two kos in the direction of the east.
The Mughal army was 24,000 strong, and that of Sultán Ibráhím numbered 50,000 men* and 2000 war elephants. But the entire force of Sultán Ibráhím was disgusted and vexed with his evil deeds. On Friday, the 4th* of Rajab, A.H. 932, Ibráhím being destined to die, the armies were ranged in battle array, facing each other. Bábar advanced, and both parties made ready for action. Bábar ordered the Mughals to be separated into three divisions; the advanced guard to remain in its place, and the other two to advance and attack the enemy.* Although the Afghán army greatly outnumbered its opponents, yet the soldiers were dispirited and disheartened from the Sultán's illtreatment, and the nobles were offended. A fierce conflict, nevertheless, took place in the plain to the east of Pánípat: so desperate a battle, indeed, had never been seen. Many of the Sultán's soldiers were killed. He himself was standing with some of his men near him, when Mahmúd Khán came forward, and said, “Our affairs are in a very desperate condition; you had better leave the field of battle. If the King is saved, it will be easy to find another army, and again make war against the Mughals. We shall soon be able to find an opportunity of accomplishing our wishes. This is my opinion; but whatever His Majesty thinks is best.” The Sultán replied, “O Mahmúd Khán, it is a disgrace for kings to fly from the field of battle. Look here, my nobles, my companions, my well-wishers and friends have partaken of the cup of martyrdom. One has fallen here, another there; where then can I now go? My horse's legs are dyed with blood up to his chest. Whilst I was King, I governed the empire as I pleased; now, perfidious Fortune has sided with the Mughals, what pleasure is there in life? It is better that I should be like my friends, in the dust and in blood.” On saying this, he rushed into the thickest of the fight, with 5000 brave horsemen, who were all that remained to him of his best troops, and slew many of the Mughals. After which, towards the close of the day, he obtained martyrdom.* He fell on the spot where his tomb now is. When Bábar was informed of his death, he was standing in the rear. He sent Diláwar Khán to make inquiries as to the truth of the intelligence. He accordingly went out to the plain where the slain were lying, and beheld that powerful Sultán prostrate in the dust and weltering in blood, the royal crown fallen from his head, the state canopy also on the ground.*