When Faríd understood that Daulat Khán took an interest in
his affairs, he wrote saying, “Míán Khán is old, and his senses
are failing him, and he is spell-bound and infatuated with a Hindu
slave-girl. Whatever she tells him he does, and has permitted
her to manage his districts, and she has trampled on all his
relatives, and disgusted his soldiery and the people he rules.
Both parganas are falling to ruin from the folly of this slave-
Daulat Khán, on representing the state of Míán Hasan's case to the king, said:—“Faríd is the ablest of his sons, and has long managed the parganas. The soldiery and inhabitants are content with him. If the king will bestow on him the management of the two parganas, he and his brother will do whatever duty you may command with 500 horse.” The king replied, “He is a bad man who complains against and accuses his own father.” Daulat Khán informed Faríd, and said:—“This reply came from the king's own mouth, but do not you be cast down. God willing, I will get for you the management of these two parganas, and will, moreover, watch over your interests.” When Faríd heard the matter, he was grieved, but to please Daulat Khán remained with him. He assisted Faríd with money, and indeed gave him such a daily allowance as to enable him to accumulate somewhat.
After some time Míán Hasan died. On the third day after his death Sulaimán placed Míán Hasan's turban on his own head, and was sitting among his friends when Míán Nizám came, accompanied by his partisans, and took the turban from off Sulaimán's head, saying, “It does not become you, in the absence of your elder brother, who is celebrated for every excellent quality, and is on service with the king, to place the turban of Míán Hasan on your own head. Have a fear of God! Have you no shame before the people of the Lord, that you thus act in contravention of law and custom, and create a cause of contention? During our father's life you acted ungenerously to Faríd through your mother's influence; on my father's account I could say nothing. Had it been otherwise, your strength and courage should have been tried; but now such conduct is no longer right. It behoves you to act to Faríd in a very different manner from what you have in times past; and abandon strife, for it is not good to contend with your elder brother. Míán Hasan in his lifetime assigned separate jágírs to his sons; be content with this, and resign your superiority; for it is your elder brother's right. If you will not give up fighting, you will become dependent on others; nor will any one speak well of you. Contention will only get you a bad name and ruin the parganas.” Sulaimán said, “If my brother treats me with any kindness, I cannot choose but serve him.”
After this Míán Nizám wrote to Faríd, telling him of the death of Míán Hasan, and of the whole affair. When Faríd got the news, he performed the usual mourning, and told Daulat Khán the posture of affairs as regarded Sulaimán. Daulat Khán said, “Do not be anxious. Please God, the king will give you the government of the two parganas.” Daulat Khán told the king the news of Míán Hasan's death, and procuring farmáns for the two parganas, gave them to Faríd, and procured him also leave to go to his jágír, that he might establish his possession and authority over them, and console his family and followers; after which he was again to present himself before the king. When Faríd arrived, all his relations and all the soldiery came out to meet him, and yielded obedience to the farmán. Sulaimán, unable to oppose him, went away to Muhammad Khán Súr Dáúd-Sháh-khail, governor of the pargana of Chaundh, etc., who commanded 1500 horse. As there had been some little ill-feeling between this Muhammad Khán and Hasan Khán, he desired nothing better than that the brothers should quarrel, and both become dependent on him. He said to Sulaimán, “Have patience for a short while, for Faríd has got a royal farmán for the government. But Sultán Ibráhím has maltreated the nobles of Sultán Bahlol and Sultán Sikandar, and they have all retired to their own districts, and remain there. And the Khán-khánán Yúsuf-khail, who was governor of the Panjáb, etc., has sent his son Diláwar Khán to Kábul, to fetch the Emperor Bábar, and he is now coming back with the Mughals. There will be war between the two monarchs. If Sultán Ibráhím prevails, you must go to him, and I will write to him on your behalf, and describe Faríd as hostile to Míán Hasan, as well as yourself, and that Míán Hasan preferred you. Whatever assistance your fortune gives you, you will get; and if the Mughals conquer, I will by force take the parganas from Faríd, and give them to you.” Sulaimán replied, “I have taken refuge with you from fear of Faríd. Because there is none like you in the tribe of Súr, I place myself in your hands.” Shortly after Muhammad Khán sent his vakíl to Faríd with this message: “Listen to my advice, and have respect to my interference. I come to mediate between you; whichever of you declines my mediation will bring shame on his kindred.” Faríd Khán wrote in reply, “You are, indeed, very great and powerful, and the Dáúd-Sháh-khail is the most exalted among the tribes of Súr; the chieftaincy of the tribe is therefore yours of right. * * The truth is not hid from you, my lord; which is, that in my father's lifetime he was always disputing with me. Even after his death, I offered to give my three brothers a larger jágír than had been assigned to them during my father's lifetime, and I said to Sulaimán, ‘Let us put aside the ill-feeling that existed between us during our father's life, and let us pass the rest of our lives in amity and affection.’ * * * I send my brother Nizám to bring him to me, and I will give him such a jágír as will satisfy him; but let him put aside the desire of sharing as his portion in (the government of) my pargana; for while I live he shall never obtain this.” When Muhammad Khán's vakíl reported what Faríd Khán had said and written, Muhammad Khán said to Sulaimán, “Faríd Khán will not give you a share quietly. I will make him do so by force.” * * *
Sulaimán was much delighted; but the matter was reported to Faríd Khán, who consulted with his brother Nizám and his other adherents, and said, “I must ally myself with some one who will be able to oppose Muhammad Khán, and there is no one within reach except Bihár Khán, son of Daryá Khán Lohání. However, it is best to wait a little. If Sultán Ibráhím prevails, no one will be able to say a word against me; for do I not hold the Sultán's farmán? And if (which God avert) the Mughals should defeat Sultán Ibráhím, then indeed I must of necessity ally myself to Bihár Khán, and remain in his service.” After some time news came that the two monarchs had joined battle on the field of Pánípat, and that after a severe contest Sultán Ibráhim had been slain, and that the kingdom of Dehlí had fallen into the hands of the Emperor Bábar, in the year 932. * *
Faríd Khán, being thus compelled, went to Bihár Khán, and entered into his service, and employed himself day and night in his business; nor did he rest one moment from it, and from this good service he gained Bihár Khán's favour; so that he had access to him in public and in private, and became one of his most intimate friends. In consequence of his excellent arrangements, he became celebrated throughout the country of Bihár. One day he went out hunting with Bihár Khán, and a tiger (sher) having been started, Faríd Khán slew it. Bihár Khán, who on the death of Sultán Ibráhím had assumed the title of “Sultán Muhammad,” and had caused coin to be struck, and the khutba to be read in his own name throughout the country of Bihár, gave to Faríd Khán, on account of this gallant encounter, the title of “Sher Khán,” and made him the deputy to his son Jalál Khán.