Great God! How varied are the decrees of fate, and how multiplex the marks of destiny! A blade of grass cannot spring from the ground without some designs being involved in it, nor a leaf stir on a tree without sundry purposes being infolded therein! How then can one estimate the mysteries and consequences which lie hid under events which are responsible for a movement of a universe? Among such was this battle-garbed banquet* (bazm-i-razmnamā) which was among the great causes of external order, and also the best means of guidance for those who had lost their way in the wilderness of error and destruction. The account of this great boon is as follows: The ill-fated Hemū was continually giving way to pride and arrogance, owing to his accumulation of incitements to infatuation, such as have already been briefly described. Especially was the Indian army encouraged by the catastrophe of Tardī Khān, and it was emboldened to contend with the hosts of Fortune. High and low were filled with pride and indulged in seditious imaginings.
When the news of the march of the standards of Fortune were spread throughout the hostile army, Hemū sent his park of artillery, great both in quality and in quantity, in advance of himself, and under the charge of Mubārak Khān and Bahādur Khān, who were chief officers of his, to Panipat, which is nearly thirty* kos from Delhi, and set about preparing for battle. It had not occurred to him that the victory-begotten troops would move with celerity. When the lion-hearted men of the advanced guard heard of the arrival of the artillery at that town, they equipped a force composed of active and battle-loving soldiers, such as L'al Khān Badakhshī, M. Qulī Uzbeg, and Samānjī* Khān and sent them forward to make an attack. When this force wrote reporting the strength of the enemy, 'Alī Qulī Khān Shaibānī joined the division, and the masterful ghāzīs, who were backed by the Shāhinshāh's Fortune, added feline skill to the deeds of tigers. It may be conjectured what deeds were done by tigers when thus supported! In fine, the artillery was captured, and the advanced guard of the enemy fled without fighting. When the moribund Hemū heard of this, he arrayed his army in three divisions. The right wing was commanded by Shādī Khān Kākar,* the left wing by Hemu's sister's son Ramya, who was distinguished for bravery, and he himself marched forward with consummate pride and great celerity. He took with him the mountain-like and dragon-mouthed elephants, which had been collected by so many Indian rulers, and which by Heaven's decree and for a warning to the superficial and the short-sighted had been brought together for this alien in form and substance. Among them were 500 palmary (sira) elephants, each of them a paragon for* swiftness and dexterity. In might and courage they were exemplars, and the running of those active athletes could not be called running, for though the race-horses of 'Irāq (Arabia) be swift, they could not outstrip those elephants. In truth each one of those famous elephants was capable of disordering a large force. They were especially calculated to confuse the onset of cavalry, as the horses had never seen such terrific forms. How can the attributes of those rushing mountains be strung on the slender thread of words. They ruined lofty buildings by shaking them, and sportively uprooted strong trees. In the hour of battle and contest they lifted up man and horse and flung them into the air.
They advance at a gentle pace, but when they encounter,
The strong are as powdered antimony under their feet.
How shall the multitude* of his army be described?
The brief account is that he marched in excellent order with 30,000 practised horsemen composed of Rajputs and Afghans who, on many occasions, had by their exploits increased his pride and arrogance. Musketeers and cross-bowmen were placed on the mountain-backs of those enormous elephants, which were furnished with suits of mail (kajīm)* and defensive armour, and made ready for war. All the elephants had these war-panoplies, and had their trunks armed with spears and knives, and were intrusted to men of war and to courageous drivers. Every one had his place assigned to him. The elephant Ghālib Jang, which was one of the first-rate elephants, was assigned to Ḥasan Khān Faujdār; the elephant Gaj Bhanwar (?),* which was one in a thousand, was assigned to Maikal Khān; the elephant Jor Banyān, which was a powerful one, was given to Ikhtiyār Khān; the elephant Fauj Madār was assigned to Sangrām Khān; and elephant Kalī Beg, which had in many battles been ridden by Hemū himself, was on that day entrusted to a driver of the name of Cāpan. He conciliated these leaders, who were lions of the jungle of war, and were the confidants of Sher Khān and Selīm Khān, and other haughty ones, and made them zealous for battle. But warlike preparations are of use against the superficial, and those who are influenced by material causes. Of what avail are they against a worshipper of God, and an annihilator of ordinary causes, who has been brought for the arrangement and completion of the spiritual and temporal world? All these materials and apparatus became additions to the household of that beautifier of the world of sovereignty. The strange event that immediately followed was a proof of this.
The account of this wonderful fortune is as follows:—
The account of this wonderful fortune is as follows:—
On Dībādīn, the 23rd Ābān, Divine month, corresponding to Thursday, 2 Muḥarram 964 (5 November, 1556), when the advanced guard of the victorious army was encamped on the borders of Pānīpat, scouts came and brought the information that the enemy had arrived, and reported his strength and equipment; and it was made certain that the ill-fated scoundrel was boldly approaching. And before the above-mentioned town was reached, it was currently rumoured that Hemū had sent a large force in advance under the command of Shādī Khān Kākar. The imperial officers did not make much account of this, and having bound their hearts to the daily increasing fortune, proceeded to face him. When it grew certain that Hemū was coming with all that preparation, inasmuch as they had not looked to their real support (i.e., Akbar), perturbation found its way into the hearts of imperial servants, through the instrumentality of empty-headed babblers, from whom no army is ever free, or rather there are armies of such. The brave men of the army of fortune reported the facts to the victory-protecting court, and made themselves ready for sacrificing their lives. There were 10,000 soldiers in this force, but perhaps only 5,000 were men of battle. When the conquering heroes, and the loyal brave knew that the enemy was at hand they, out of wisdom and a large capacity, which on such occasions are greater incitements to victory than thousands of experienced soldiers, did not regard the apparent numerical superiority of the enemy, and their abundant equipment, for it is the way of the happy-fortuned and auspicious not to put off till the morrow the work of the day. Without a semblance of hesitation or delay they drew up their forces and sought for an opportunity to engage. Sikandar Khān and a number of veterans were on the right. 'Abdullah Khān and another body of devoted men were on the left. The centre received support from the valour of 'Alī Qulī Khān Shaibānī, Ḥusain Qulī Khān, Shāh Qulī Maḥram, and a number of efficient young men formed the vanguard.
Now that the narrative has come so far it is proper to pause and to expatiate somewhat, so that there may be amenity of discourse. O thou who seekest for admonitory words and who watchest the thread of exposition give ear for a time to me!
From the time when H.M. the Shāhinshāh by dint of his world-conquering mind had sent on noted officers in advance, he did not for an instant disregard the arrangemeṇt of the main army, and marched forward, stage by stage, to victory. On this most excellent of days, which was the new year's day of victory and rejoicing, he marched from Karnāl, which is ten kos from Pānīpat; and halted at the distance of five kos from the latter town. There was no intelligence in the camp that the enemy had approached the vanguard, and the soldiers had not yet rubbed off the dust of the march or taken breath, when news of the enemy's having reached the vanguard, together with other disquieting information was received. It appeared that many had given way, but that fighting was still going on briskly. The order for battle was immediately given to the army, and preparations were made for the march. Commands were issued that the heroes should put their armour on their breasts, and trust in God in their hearts, and follow the victorious stirrup. In a short time they were equipped in a manner worthy of praise from masters of fortune, and began searching for a fight. H.M. with a kingly and tranquil countenance placed the helmet of Divine fortune on his head, and the cuirass of God's protection on his breast, and the foot of dominion in the stirrup of intent. Bairām Khān Khān-Khānān moved in front of the ranks, and round the divisions, and took measures for preserving the rules of war, and the protection of points. On behalf of H.M. the Shāhinshāh he distributed promises of favour and anger, and set in order the banquet of battle. After the troops had been marshalled, and their hearts encouraged, the giver of commands to the world incited them to rapidity and ordered a march. When the moon of the world-conquering banner cast the light of its approach on Pānīpat, the vanguard of victory appeared in front, and heroic men came and communicated the glad tidings of victory, and Shāh Qulī Maḥram brought Hemū a prisoner to his Majesty, and was the recipient of royal favours.
The brief account of this great victory, and grand boon, which was a masterpiece of good fortune, is as follows:—
When Hemū became aware that the standards of glory were far off, and that some of the officers had come in advance, he rapidly marched against them, thinking that if he dispersed these men, who were the choice troops, the rest of his task would be easy. He relied upon the numbers of his experienced troops, and on his many strong elephants, and advanced with immeasurable pride. In the drunkenness of infatuation, he could not understand that he who is supported by the driver of the elephant will assuredly prevail over him whose trust is in the elephant. How then can the superiority of him be denied who is in the confidence of the Creator of the elephant?; and what effect against him can be procured by calling upon elephants for help? However that moribund, ill-fated one carried on hot war, and the brave men on each side made noble endeavours and like Ra'd in Naisān,* and tigers in a reed-bed (nayistān) rushed upon one another with shouts. They served well with courage and devotion, and gathered glory.