echoed the sentiments of others when he asserted
that these letters were really written by Dara, an expert imitator of Shah Jahan's hand, and that the late Emperor's seal was necessarily in the possession of his successor.[1] Even those who
did not go so far, thought with Aurangzib that
Shah Jahan was either dead or a helpless invalid
entirely under Dara's control, so that he had
practically vacated the throne. Some even assert-
ed that Dara had wickedly flung his helpless
father into prison and was doing him to death.[2]
The three younger brothers, therefore, very
plausibly asserted in their letters to the Emperorand march on Agra. that their loving minds had
been unsettled by these alarming rumours, and they were
marching on Agra to see their father with their
own eyes and satisfy themselves as to his real
condition. Thereafter (they promised) they
would return peacefully to their provinces or
loyally do whatever their father would personally
command them. Their marching on Agra was
no sign of rebellion. Had they not hastened
thither from their head quarters without waiting
Page:History of Aurangzib (based on original sources) Vol 1.djvu/346
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316
HISTORY OF AURANGZIB.
[CHAP. XII.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/History_of_Aurangzib_%28based_on_original_sources%29_Vol_1.djvu/page346-1024px-History_of_Aurangzib_%28based_on_original_sources%29_Vol_1.djvu.jpg)