At the time when the page of creation was blank, and nothing had yet taken form or shape, the Supreme Wisdom, with a view to preserve regularity and order in the world, fixed the destiny of each man, and deposited the key for unravelling each difficulty in the hands of an individual endowed with suitable talents. A time is fixed for everything, and when that time comes all obstacles are removed. When the man who is destined to perform it is born, and illumines this world by the light of his mind, he finds very easily the way to its efficient performance. This may be illustrated by the following brief account.
As the Emperor Jahángír, according to the general custom, had entrusted the management of the affairs of government to the unerring wisdom of his son Sháh Jahán, this Prince, possessed as he was of a power which could surmount all difficulties, first achieved a very glorious victory over the Ráná; and then, by the instrumentality of his sword, subjugated the tribes of Jám and Bhárá. That the secret designs of the Eternal Wisdom and the mysteries of the heavens might be discovered, and the heavenly light which had adorned the mind of this Prince, who was an honour to the Muhammadan religion, might shine upon all people, it was reported to the Emperor, in these days of his increasing prosperity, that Súraj Mal, who was generously confirmed in the zamíndárí of his father Rájá Bású, had, through some vile ideas, raised disturbances in the country, and, under the influence of his declining star, revolted against the throne; and, having exceeded his proper limits, had begun to oppress the people of the parganas of the Panjáb by his plundering expeditions. His Majesty being well aware of the superiority of the Prince's talents, was conscious that no difficulty was too great to be surmounted by him, and no enterprise too hazardous to be achieved.* * *
The duty of punishing the new rebel was therefore entrusted to him; that, by the sharp edge of his sword, all disturbances might be quelled. The Prince accordingly resolved to take measures for the accomplishment of this trust, and gave the command to Rájá Bikramájít, who was one of the oldest and most experienced servants of the throne.* * *
The Emperor, by the divine guidance, had always in view to
extirpate all the rebels in his dominions, to destroy all infidels root
and branch, and to raze all the Pagan temples level with the ground.
Endowed with a heavenly power, he devoted all his exertions to the
promulgation of the Muhammadan religion; and through the aid of
the Almighty God, and by the strength of his sword, he used all his
endeavours to enlarge his dominions and promote the fame of the
religion of Muhammad. Through fear of his sword, which had the
quality of fire, the country of Hindústán, like the Muhammadan
faith, received every moment a new splendour. Under his powerful
sway the song of Islám was sung anew with a loud voice, and the
rose of the principles of religion bloomed and widely spread its
fragrance. Under the care of this representative of the Almighty
God, Islám got every moment a new lustre; and the bride of his
fortune, adorned by the ornaments of his talents, which shone over
all the world, appeared every hour with a new show of splendour.
Being thus favoured by the grace of God, His Majesty, in the 13th
year of his reign, or A.H. 1027, led his victorious arms into the territory
of Gujarát. When the distance was travelled over, the bright
sun of his glory reflected its rays upon the inhabitants of Ahmad-
The commencement of the 13th year of the Emperor Jahángír's reign was the beginning of the time in which several great victories were destined to be achieved. Every day of this year was as good as the Nau-roz, and every morning as pleasant as that of the great festival of 'Íd, or as happy as hope. Every night appeared as bright as the sun, and as delightful as that called the Lailatu-l Kadr or the night of power. In short, it was a time when the bud of the prosperity of this excellent reign was fully blown. It was in these happy days that the Emperor, having proceeded to Gujarát, adorned the city of Ahmadábád by his presence. While he was there, it was reported to him that Súraj Mal, son of Rájá Bású, whom he had generously confirmed in the zamíndárí of his father, had, by his short-sightedness, revolted against the throne, and that, acting upon the dictates of his folly, and deviating from the path of prudence, he had the intention of stretching out his rapacious hand upon the parganas of the Panjáb. His Majesty, whose whole efforts were always directed to the extinguishing of the fire of Paganism, and removing the mischief of mutiny and rebellion, immediately ordered the Prince to take measures towards the punishment of the revolter. As, through the guidance of the Supreme God, his attention was always devoted to the extirpation of rebels and infidels, he directed the Prince, who was as wise as Jupiter and as prudent as Mercury, to undertake the capture of the fort of Kángrá, which from its foundation to this time was never approached by any sovereign. The Prince, who had already achieved a victory over the Ráná, and also subdued the tribes of Jám and Bhárá, lost no time, according to the Emperor's orders, in preparing the army, and placed it under the command of Rájá Bikramájít, whom the Prince had kindly exalted to great rank, and who on former occasions had rendered many meritorious services to the throne, and latterly conducted a successful war against the tribes of Jám and Bhárá, etc., etc.
When, in the 13th year of his reign, the Emperor Jahángír led on his ever successful and victorious arms to the territory of Gujarát, and, having reached the city of Ahmadábád, exalted its rank higher than the ninth heaven by his auspicious arrival, it was reported to him that Súraj Mal, son of Rájá Bású, deviating from the way of prudence, had raised disturbances in the country, revolted against the throne, and having advanced beyond his bounds, had begun to oppress the people of the parganas of the Panjáb. The Emperor, who saw from the infancy of the Prince Sháh Jahán, that the light of fortune and greatness beamed forth from his countenance, and that the sun of his prosperity was rising higher and higher every day, was fully confident of the hope that no difficulty was too great to be overcome by his courage, and no enterprize too hazardous to be achieved by his valour. Just before the rebellion of Súraj Mal, a victory was gained by him over the Ráná, and the insurrection of the tribes of Jám and Bhárá was totally subdued. The duty of punishing this new revolter, and the destruction of the fort of Kángrá, which was so strong that no king was ever able to take it, were also placed under his charge. He was accordingly obliged to turn his attention to this expedition. He gave the command of his army to Rájá Bikramájít, who, by his good luck and the effect of his fortunate star, had rendered him valuable services on all occasions, etc., etc.
The Emperor, having observed in the Prince those qualities which befit a great monarch, and which indicate the marks of future prosperity, and also being convinced that his praiseworthy character would soon enable him to become a most fortunate and powerful ruler, always took such measures which might show to the people that His Majesty wished to make him his successor, and hence it was that the achievement of every great enterprize was referred to the force of his arms, and the unravelling of each difficult proposition was entrusted to his talents. When a victory had been achieved over the Ráná by the ever-successful army of the Prince, the Emperor Jahángír, in the 13th year of his reign, proceeded to the province of Gujarát, and the city of Ahmadábád, which is always as delightful as a garden in spring, was adorned by the marks of his footsteps. At this time, and immediately after the Prince had subdued the tribes of Jám and Bhárá, the Emperor received the news of the rebellion of Súraj Mal, and his oppressions over the inhabitants of the parganas of the Panjáb. The duty of punishing this new rebel was also entrusted to the Prince, who was at the same time ordered to take the fort of Kángrá, which had long been the object of His Majesty's desire. The Prince, agreeably to the royal mandates, prepared an army, and placed it under the command of Rájá Bikramájít, who had rendered many valuable services to the throne, etc., etc.