When 'Ísá Khán went to Gujarát, Sultán Mahmúd was a minor; but his minister Daryá Khán wrote that the king was a minor, the chiefs at enmity among themselves, and that the Khán-khánán Yúsuf-khail had taken away with him all the army of Mándú and Gujarát. 'Ísá Khán observed to Sher Sháh that “wherever misfortunes have befallen the Afgháns from the Mughals, it has been through this man. The Khán-khánán Yúsuf-khail brought the Emperor Bábar into India from Kábul; and if the Emperor Humáyún had acted according to what the Khán-khánán advised, he would not have repented it, and would have utterly destroyed you; but your good fortune prevailed, so that the Emperor did not act upon his advice. He must be put to death, for it is not right to allow him to live, even though he be a prisoner (at Mungír).” Sher Sháh said, “Every Afghán whom I have consulted has said, ‘He is an Afghán of consideration, and it is not advisable to kill him.’ But my opinion has been that which 'Ísá Khán has expressed.” So he gave orders that the Khán-khánán, who had been kept in confinement since his capture at Mungír, and who had received a daily allowance of half a sír of unground barley, should be put to death; so he was slain. News arrived that the Emperor Humáyún purposed marching towards Kanauj. Sher Khán despatched his son, by name Kutb Khán, to Mándú, in order that he might, in concert with the chiefs of those parts, alarm and ravage the country about Ágra and Dehlí. When the Emperor Humáyún heard that Sher Sháh had sent his son towards Chanderí, that he might raise disturbances in those parts, he sent both his brothers, Mirzá Hindál and Mirzá 'Askarí, with other nobles, in that direction. When the Málwá chiefs heard that two brothers of the Emperor were coming to oppose Kutb Khán, they gave him no assistance. Kutb Khán went from Chanderí to the city of Chondha, and engaging the Mughals at Chondha,* was slain. Mirzá Hindál and Mirzá 'Askarí having gained this victory, returned to the Emperor.
When Sher Sháh heard that the chiefs of the country of
Mándú had not assisted Kutb Khán, and that Kutb Khán
was slain, he was extremely grieved and enraged; nevertheless,
he did not openly manifest this by his conduct, but
kept his grudge against the chiefs of Mándú concealed in
his own bosom. The Mughals gained excessive confidence from
this victory, and large forces having come also from their
own country, the Emperor Humáyún arrayed his army and
came to Kanauj (Zí-l ka'da, 946 A.H., April, 1540 A.D.). Sher
Sháh also fortified himself on the opposite side of the river
Ganges. At this conjuncture he received intelligence that
Khawás Khán had slain Mahárta. There was great rejoicing in
the Afghán army,*
and Sher Sháh wrote to Khawás, saying:
“Come with all speed to me; for I and your other friends are
awaiting your coming before we engage the enemy; we are looking
anxiously in your direction.” And when he heard of the
near approach of Khawás Khán, he sent a herald to the Emperor
Humáyún, saying, “I have for some time entrenched myself
here. The Emperor has the power to choose. If he will cross
the river he may fight with me on this side; or, if he prefer it,
I will cross the river, and fight with the Emperor on that side.”
When the herald came to the Emperor, and reported what Sher
Sháh had said, the Emperor, in utter contempt of Sher Sháh,
replied: “Say to Sher Khán that if he will retreat some kos
from the waterside, I will cross the river Ganges and give him
battle.” The herald returned and told Sher Sháh what the
Emperor had said. Sher Sháh retreated several kos from the
river bank. The Emperor Humáyún, having prepared a bridge,
crossed the river Ganges. Hamíd Khán Kákar, one of Sher
Sháh's nobles, said, “You ought to attack the Mughal army
before they have all crossed the river.” Sher Sháh replied: “I
have never before had any advantages, and have been compelled
to use stratagems in warfare. Now by the favour of the all-
After some days Khawás Khán also came; on the very day he arrived, Sher Sháh marched in fighting order, and captured all the supplies which were coming to the Emperor's army, and took 300 camels, and a large convoy of bullocks. On the 10th Muharram, 947 H., both armies drew out their forces. Sher Sháh thus arranged his army. In the centre was Sher Sháh himself, with Haibat Khán Níází, who bore the title of 'Azam Humáyún, Masnad 'Álí 'Ísá Khán Sarwání, Kutb Khán Lodí, Hájí Khán Jaloí, Buland Khán, Sarmast Khán, Saif Khán Sarwání, Bijlí Khán, and others. On the right were Jalál Khán, son of Sher Sháh, who after Sher Sháh's death succeeded him on the throne, and was entitled Islám Sháh, Táj Khán, Sulaimán Khán Kiráni, Jalál Khán Jaloí, and others. On the left, 'Ádil Khán, son of Sher Sháh, Kutb Khán, Ráí Husain Jalwání, and others. When Sher Sháh had drawn up his army in this order, he said to the Afgháns: “I have used my best exertions to collect you together, I have done my best in training you, and have kept you in anticipation of such a day as this. This is the day of trial; whoever of you shows himself to excel in valour on the field of battle, him will I promote above his fellows.” * * * The Afgháns replied: “The mighty king has much protected and favoured us. This is the time for us to serve him and show our devotion.” Sher Sháh ordered each chief to return to his own followers and to remain with them; and he himself went through the army and set it in proper array.
The Emperor's forces were broken by Khawás Khán's division, but Sher Sháh's right, under his son Jalál Khán, was defeated four of the chiefs, however, kept their ground, such as Jalál Khán himself, Míán Aiyúb Kalkapúr Sarwání, and Ghází Mujlí. When Sher Sháh saw that his right was broken, he wished to go to its assistance; but Kutb Khán Lodí said: “My lord, do not quit your own post, lest men should think the centre also is broken. Go on into the midst of the enemy.” As Sher Sháh's division proceeded straight on, they encountered the Mughal force which had routed Sher Sháh's right; they defeated and drove it on the Emperor's centre division. Sher Sháh having driven away the Mughal force in front of his son Jalál Khán; and his left, in which was his other son 'Ádil Khán and Kutb Khán Banet, having repulsed the troops opposed to them, fell on the Mughal centre. Sher Sháh's right, which had been defeated, rallied at the same time, and thus the Afghán army completely surrounded the Mughal force. Sher Sháh's sons and other Afghán chiefs performed many gallant acts, especially Haibat Khán Níází and Khawás Khán, who drove back the Mughals with the stroke of the watered sabre and the point of the life-melting spear. The Emperor Humáyún himself remained firm like a mountain in his position on the battlefield, and displayed such valour and gallantry as is beyond all description. * * *