CHAPTER LXIX.
CAPTURE OF FORT KĀLINJAR*
BY THE AID OF THE SERVANTS*
OF
DOMINION.

The breezes of fortune which blew from the vent-hole of fortune caused the flowers of the gardens of success to smile, and the boughs of victory to become heavy with fruit. The aspirations of joy were fulfilled. Proclamations issued from the* four pillars of dominion, and joyful tidings from the six sides of fortune. As an instance of this, on the 32nd day of Amardād, Divine month, corresponding to Tuesday 29 Ṣafar 977, 11 August 1569, messengers brought the news of the capture of Fort Kālinjar. That fort is built upon a hill, and is equal to the cærulean fortress of the spheres.

Verse*

If one vows to ascend the hill
He afterwards searches for a means of fulfilment
When one sees a higher hill than it
His to-day will be the day after the resurrection.

This fort was in the possession of Rajah Rām Cand, the ruler of Panna. During the evil time of the Afghans he got possession of it by giving a large sum of money to Bijlī Khān, the adopted son of Bihār Khān.* At the time when the army of victory proceeded against Ranthanbhōr, an order was issued to Majnūn Khān Qāqshāl, Shāham Khān Jalāīr and other officers, who had jāgīrs in the eastern provinces for the taking of Fort Kālinjar. They obeyed the com­mand and laid siege to the fort. The garrison was brought into difficulty so that no one could put his head out of the fort. When the report of the captures of Citūr and Ranthanbhōr resounded in the ears of the haughty ones, everyone whose eyes had been in a measure touched by the collyrium of understanding saw that there was no remedy except to lay down the head of presumption on the ground of submission. Rajah Rām Cand, who possessed some rays of intelligence, heard of the arrival of the holy cortège at the capital, and asked for quarter. He made over the fort to the imperial servants and sent the keys along with splendid presents along with confidential agents to the sublime threshold, and offered his con­gratulations on the recent victories. His wisdom and foresight were approved of, and his agents were received with favour. The government of the fort was made over to Majnūn Khān Qāqshāl. By the felicity of the Shāhinshāh's fortune such a fortress upon whose battlements the eagle of the imagination of former rulers had never alighted, came into the possession of the imperial servants without the trouble of a battle or a contest.

One of the occurrences was the arrival of the ambassador of the Rajah of Kajlī* which is a province of India near Malabār. The ambassador made many demonstrations of loyalty to the Shāhinshāh. The Rajah was distinguished among the landholders of that part of the country for his territory and wealth, and on one occasion having received benefit from the sect of jogīs he had since a year adopted their costume and treated them with honour. This Rajah had beheld in a dream the spiritual and physical glory of H.M. the Shāhinshāh and had become one of his disciples and continually made inquiries of travellers concerning him. He was always medi­tating the sending of the rarities of the country to court, and the expressing of his devotion. But on account of the distance and the intervention of islands (peninsulas?) and mountains, and of opposi­tions from enemies, he could not effect his purpose. None of his servants accepted this mission which was distant, and the path of which led through enemies. The son of his Vizier in his wisdom and disinterestedness undertook the journey. He said that though the journey might not be accomplished by preparation and expendi­ture, et cetera, yet he would as a single individual give his energy to it, and by every exertion in his power reach the court. He would both discharge his duty to his master and show his devotion to him, and also attain eternal felicity for himself by beholding the Shāhin­shāh. As the Vizier's son was dear to his father and mother they did not give him leave to go, but at last that auspicious one, after a thousand efforts, obtained a willing or unwilling permission and set off. The Rajah said, “Though you are conveying to the court the best thing in the world, viz., genuine sincerity, yet it is indis­pensable that the dues of dependence be paid. But if all my jewels and my wealth were taken there, what show would they make, and what value would be placed on them? Especially, how can you carry rarities in this condition, and how can you protect them from the dangers of the road? But I have a knife which was made by former physicians of this country, and who constructed it according to talismans and charms. Though in appearance it possesses no value, yet its virtue is that whenever it is applied to a swelling it removes it. I make over this rarity to you that you may put it into the hollow of a staff and carry it with you, so that it may be a memorial of me.” The ambassador set off; he was for a long time in attendance on the court but could not get an introduction. At last he was introduced through Rajah Bīrbar. That protector of the poor and favourer of the humble (Akbar) sent for him and granted him his desire. After doing homage he pro­duced that rarity and was rewarded with favours. Afterwards he took leave and returned to his country. To this day the knife is in the general treasury. I have frequently heard from the holy lips of the Shāhinshāh that more than two hundred persons, who were near to death, obtained health by touching that knife. Such refulgent power has been shown by the world-adorning Creator! When one is of a lofty nature and exalted genius, the world-bestowing Deity casts without entreaty into the bosom of his fortune the fulfilment of a wish which has not yet entered into his heart. What wonder then if He grant wishes that such an one has formed! The wise man knows how the desires of that spiritually and externally great one are granted daily. An instance is the happiness-increasing existence of a son which the sovereign was always imploring from the Divine Court. In this year that great blessing was bestowed, and the lord of the world and of men obtained the fulness of joy.