Letters of Aurungzebe/Letter to Hamid-ūd-Din Khán Bahádūr
Letter addressed to
Hamid-ud-Din Khan Bahadur [1].
LETTER CLXVIIL
Hamid should know that a few days ago prince A'azam uttered these words before me: "There are my three bitter enemies — Hamid-ud-Din Khan, Amir Khan'[2], and Muna'am Khan[3]". I replied, "Amir Khan is a good-natured man; he is the enemy of none. It is proper that Hamid is also not an enemy. The nature of Muna'am Khan is unknown to this oppressive and ignorant man (i.e., Aurungzebe himself)". Did you ever consider why you are indifferent to your own condition and to death which is nearer to man than the strip of his shoe and the pulse of his neck (i.e., death comes unexpectedly )? Woe! woe! Alas! alas! (Couplet) "Sometimes I am left behind my hand, heart, and foot (i.e., sometimes I become helpless). O life ! you are passing away soon; I fear that I will be left behind you (i.e., I will die soon)". If you think it right I will recommend you to prince A'azam. If you quarrel with each other I will reconcile you both; so that you may not be dishonest in serving this mortal creature (i.e., Aurungzebe). Whatever you think write it to me or inform me of it.
- ↑ He took part in the various sieges of Sattara (1699), Parnaleh (1700), Khelna (1703), and Torna (1704). Once Aurungzebe ordered him to separate Hadu, an evil companion of Kam Bakhsha, from the prince. The Khan was wounded by the prince, but in the end he succeeded in imprisoning Hadu and thus separating .him from the prince. 1697. Cf. Let. CXXVI. Aurungzebe entrusted him with his last will for dividing his kingdom amongst his sons. 1707. In this will Aurungzebe said, "Let Hamid-ud-Din Khan, who is faithful and trusty, convey my corpse to the place of Shah Zen-ud-Uin and erect a tomb over it in the same manner as is done for dervises". Cf. Let. CXXXII.
- ↑ Cf. Let. XVII.
- ↑ Cf. Let. VII.