As Qarā Bahādūr was not skilful nor laborious he proceeded on his service after long delay, and arrived at Rajaurī in the height of the hot season. Naṣrat Khān, Fataḥ Cak, nephew of Daulat Cak, Lohar, Ankarī, Najī Rīnā, the brother of 'Īdī Rīnā, Yūsuf Cak, son of Ramakī Cak, and Khwāja Ḥājī came and joined him. As they saw that the army was not well constituted, Naṣrat Khān, Fataḥ Cak, Lohar and Ankarī* fled to Kashmīr. The army remained for three months in Lālī Khokar, near Bimbhar, waiting for the coming of the auxiliaries. As the leaders of the force were old servants, they took the longer time in arriving. It is not by such slowness and heaviness that the entrance into Kashmīr is to be effected, for the roads of that country are of such a nature that if the ruler get news a few days before of the approach of strangers and seize the passes, it would be difficult, or rather impossible, for an army adorned with thousands of Rustams to get possession of the country. Ghāzī Khān, who heard of the coming of the army, and some months had passed meanwhile, so strongly fortified the roads and passes that there could be no idea of getting through them. He also sent* his infantry down from the hills. M. Qarā Bahādūr, after fighting for some days near Rajaurī, was defeated and turned back. It was not solely the strength of the Kashmīris that effected this. The season of ague, the beginning of the rains and the non-arrival of the auxiliary force were the principal causes of the defeat. A wonderful fight occurred on this occasion. On one side were musketeers, and on the other archers. Though the royal soldiers were few in number, yet by heavenly aid they did great things and gave proof of their courage. Kucak Bahādūr, a Rustam-hearted man, specially distinguished himself. At last, as the thing was an impossibility and as the superintendents of fortune had reserved the conquest of this delightful country for another time when the world-cherishing Shāhinshāh should throw off the veil over his world-adorning beauty and undertake the management of affairs without the partnership of the destructive and contumacious, they did not on this occasion gather together the materials of victory. Qarā Bahādūr made such arrangements as he could and came to the fort of Dāīra* near Rajaurī. Kūcak Bahādūr was wounded with an arrow. He became a prisoner and was brought before Ghāzī Khān. As the Kashmīris had seen his valour, Ghāzī Khān received him with kindness and made him over to the physicians. But as remedies were of no avail he took the path of annihilation.* Next day Qarā Bahādūr arrived at Naushahra. At this time of increasing dominion H.M. the Shāhinshāh in accordance with the suitability of the time was engaged in Agra, the capital, in rendering thanks for the glorious favours of God and under the disguise of inattention to the affairs of the sovereignty, for every day the notes of fortune and felicity were coming into evidence. In every direction countries were being conquered, and the news of victories was arriving. From all quarters the lords of sincerity were congregating in crowds. Dominion was increasing, and fortune was adorning. Understanding was becoming far-sighted, and men were becoming devoted. What place in that holy festival could be held by such news as that of what had happened to Qarā Bahādūr? And what dust of loss could it raise in that sublime sanctuary?
Among the occurrences was the coming of the news that Bairām Khān had passed away. As the holy personality is a fountain of generosity and humanity he expressed regret at this event in spite of the things that had taken place, and of which a few out of many have been related. I do not know if this event was the retribution of past deeds, or if his mind was still polluted by evil thoughts, or if his prayer had been answered, or whether the favour of God released that good man from the heavy burden of shame. In truth Bairām Khān was in reality a good man, and of excellent qualities. On account of bad company, which is the worst evil for mortals, his excellencies were first perceived by him, and his infatuation was increased by excessive flattery. For, whenever one fixes his eye on his own goodnesses and abilities there becomes a brisk market of flatterers in the antechamber of his heart. And he takes every flattery that reaches him to be true, and becomes a self-worshipper, and a self-adorner. Consequently, when the time came, the true beauty of the Lord of the Age remained hidden from Bairām Khān, because it was screened by the tender age and the absence of practice in political matters. While searching for the defects of others he did not consider his own. But the house of flatterers did not do him so much harm as did his honest but inexperienced and short-sighted friends. At length, as he in reality belonged to the band of the auspicious of mind and awakened of fortune, he by good guidance did not end in rebellion and contumacy, and lived to repent. By the blessing of service and the grace of pardon he attained to happiness, and the king of the world became pleased with him and was gracious. He set off on a pilgrimage to the glorious places, with honour, accompanied by his family, and provided with goods. When he arrived at the city of Pattan,* which is the nearest city of Gujrat, and used formerly to be called Nahrwāla, he stayed for some days in that delightful neighbourhood in order to take repose. At that time the governor* of the city was Musā Khān Fūlādī, and he was firmly established there. A number of Afghans had assembled round him, and were disturbers of the country. Among them was Mubārak Khān Lohānī, whose father had been killed in the battle of Mācīwāra when Bairām Khān was in command. A desire for revenge took possession of that mad Afghan, and he resolved to kill Bairām Khān. Moreover* a Kashmīrī wife of Selīm Khān, the son of Sher Khān, and her daughter by him, were in the caravan, and were intending to go to the Ḥijāz along with Bairām Khān. It had also been arranged that Bairām Khān should marry his son to the daughter; this too was displeasing to the Afghans.
While Bairām Khān was in Pattan he was continually visiting its gardens, &c., and one day he went on the great pond,* which is a delightful excursion, and has within it a pavilion* which can be reached by boat. At the time when he disembarked and was about to mount his equipage, that ignorant, unrighteous one and 30 or 40 other Afghan wretches came to the bank of the pond to attack Bairām Khān. It appeared as if they had come to pay their respects to him, and so he called them to him. When that villain went up to him he incontinently drew his dagger and struck Bairām Khān on the back with such force that the point came out at his breast. Another wretch struck him on the head with a sword and finished him. In such a condition did he, fortunate in his end, depart from this world with the words Allah Akbar (God is great) on his lips. He had the bliss of martyrdom which was ever his wish, and for which he asked in his morning prayers and for which he sought the prayers of the men of God. One day, in the very midst of his authority, one of the simple-minded Saiyids* said, as he rose up to quit his levee, that he would say the Fātiḥa* with the intention that the Nawāb should obtain martyrdom; Bairām Khān smiled and said, “My good Sir (Mīr), why this commotion, and why this regret, we wish for martyrdom, but not in such a hurry.”
In fine, his companions were disconcerted and confused at this and dispersed, and Bairām Khān lay in the dust and in his blood till some faquirs and poor men lifted up his bloody corpse and committed it to earth in the precincts of the tomb of Shaikh Ḥisām* who was one of the great Shaikhs of his time. On the day* of Bād 22 Bahman, Divine month, corresponding to Friday 14th Jumāda-al-awal 968, 31st January 1561, this catastrophe occurred.* Qāsim Arslān made the following chronogram:—
When Bairām donned the pilgrim's dress to visit the K'āaba
His martyrdom by the way fulfilled* his object.
An invisible angel uttered this chronogram
Shahīd shud Muḥammad Bairām.
(Muhammad Bairām became a martyr, 968).