§ 41. Proverty is no hindrance where there is a will.

In the 32nd year of Aurangzib's reign, Mirza Sadr-ud-din Muhammad Khan Safawi, (who was ultimately given the title of Shah Nawaz Khan), was dismissed from his rank for making an improper request. The Emperor settled on him an annual stipend of Rs. 40,000. After a year His Majesty recollected the claims of his father, Mirza Sultan Safawi, who had shown great cons­tancy during the war with Dara Shukoh. So, he sent a gracious farman summoning him to Court with a special robe of honour, by the hand of mace-bearers. The Khan after taking the farman kissed it, put on the robe, and after showing the proper etiquette sent a petition, to say, “Owing to the poverty resulting from my long deprivation of rank, I am not able to engage a body of retainers with whom I may attend Court. So, I am waiting for the caravan from Bengal [to escort me].” The Emperor wrote, (verse)

“The odour of the rose and the morning breeze are out on the road,
If you wish to go out of yourself, there is no beter caravan than these.
Alas that the objects that captivate the heart
Are as close together as the links of a chain!

Outwardly your excuse is reasonable, but in fact the weakness of your spirit [is the cause of your] strai­tened means. O, God! show the path to all whose steps are weak!”

Text.–Ir. MS. 16b.

Notes.–Mirza Sultan (M. U. iii. 581) was devoted to Aurangzib during the war of succession, but did not fight, as he was left behind at Aurangabad. His son, Sadr-ud-din, rose to be paymaster, under Aurangzib and was created Shah Nawaz Khan by Bahadur Shah I. (Life in M. U. iii. 692).