1 138 HISTORY OF TUE PANJAB.
2 our intention henceforward to govern our people according our own
3 judgment, let our well-wisher withdraw from all worldly concerns, and, retir-
4 ing to Mecca, far removed from the toils of public life, spend the rest of
5 his days in prayer.” Behram Khan sent the ensigns of his rank, banners,
6 kettle-drums and his elephants to the king, and proceeded as far as Bik-
7 Behram tiesto aner, on his way to Mecca, but changed his mind and returned to Nagore,
8 cca He soon after returned to the Panjdb, where he raised the standard of
9 revolt. He was pursued by Pir-Muhammad Khan, and driven to Bhatinda,
10 where Sher Muhammad Khan, one of his old adherents, expelled his escort,
11 and, contrary to his expectations, appropriated his whole property to him-
12 self. The ex-minister then proceeded to Depalpir, governed by Darvyesh
13 Mahomed, Uzbek, one of his o]d adherents. The Governor put in confinement
14 Khwaja Muzaffar Ali who was sent by the minister to wait on him, and
15 sent him to the king. All hopes of success being thus at an end, the
16 Rut histroopsare @X-minister marched to Jalandar, and, proceeding thence to Machiwara,
17 routed was encounted and routed by Muhammad Khan Atka, the Moghal General.
18 Akber now proceeded in person to Ldhore, and had reached Ludhiana
19 when he heard of the total defeat of Behram Khan near the Sewalak
20 Perplexity of Behram. Mountains. The exiled minister, now in the greatest distress, sent his
21 confidential agent, Jamal, to his royal master, representing his unfortunate
22 condition and imploring pardon. The king despatched Mullah Abdulla,
23 a native of Sultdnpir, to the minister, with assurances of forgiveness, and
24 Tis repentance, sent his principal nobles to conduct him to the court. The repentant
25 minister's reception by his generous master presented a most impressive
26 scene, which is thus described by Ferishta. “ When Behram Khan entered
27 the royal tent, he hung his turban round his neck, and, advancing rapidly,
28 threw himself in tears at the foot of the throne. Akber, stretching forth
29 his hand, caused him to rise, and seated him on his right hand, in his former
30 And pardon station, at the head of the nobles. A splendid dress was now brought,
31 and the king addressed the fallen minister in the following words :—‘ If
32 Behram Khan loves a military life, the governments of Kalpi and Chanderi
33 offer a field for his ambition. If he choose rather to remain at court,
34 our favour shall not be wanting to the benefactor of our family ; but should
35 he be disposed to seek devotion in retirement, let him perform a pilgrimage
36 to Mecca, whither he shall be escorted in a manner worthy of his rank.”
37 Behram Khan replied, “ The royal confidence being once shaken, how can
38 I wish to remain in the royal presence? The clemency of the king is
39 enough, and his forgiveness is more than a reward for my former services.
40 Let me, therefore, turn my thoughts from this world to another, and be
41 allowed to proceed to the holy sepulchre.” Akber assented. A pension of
42 Rs. 50,000 was settled upon him, and Behram Khan proceeded to Gujrat
43 to seek means of transport to Arabia, but was stabbed to the heart in
44 inis assassination, the suburbs of Pattan by an Afghan whose father he had slain in battle
45 ; with his own hand during the reign of Himdytn. Thus ended the career
46 Abber hisownmaster Of this great minister and soldier, and Akber, now 18 years of age, was left
47 nee eee henceforth to rule alone. The widow of the deceased, and his son, Mirza
48 Abdul Rahim, then only four years old, were escorted to Agra, where they
49 were amply provided for by the emperor.
50 About this time Muhammad Khan Atka, governor of the Panjab, repaired
51 Akber marriesa Hin- to court, according to orders, with suitable presents. In 1561 A.D. Raja Puran
52 a Mal gave his daughter in marriage to the kin dl ie son | raul
53 cat g g, and he and his son, Bhawau1
54 Das, were enrolled among the grandees of the court. In 1562, Adam Ghak-
55 kar having disturbed the peace of the Panjab, the officers of the province
56 reduced him to submission with the aid of Kamal Ghakkar and the Moghals
57 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com