288 HISTORY OF INDIA. [B^jok II.
A.D. 1658. mated the other brothers, who, when ordered to lay down their arms, positively refused. They iuid, in fact, advanced too far to recede, and nothing now remained but a further appeal to arms. Shall Jehan wfis disposed to take the field in person, but allowed himself to be dissuaded, and left the supreme cfmi- mand to Dara, who soon saw himself at the head of an arniy which seemed sufficient to crush all his enemies. He miglit have added greatly to its strength by waiting for the arrival of a large reinforcement, which his son Soliman was bringing from Benares; but his natural impetuosity urged him forward, and, contrary to the better advice of Shah Jehan, he risked an engagement, Vjy which all was lost. The battle was fought at Samaghar, one march from Agra, in the beginning of June, 1658. Many individual acts of heroism were performed on both sides ; and victory hung suspended till the disappearance of Dara, in con- sequence of his elephant having become unmanageable, so discouraged his soldiers that a general panic ensued. In the evening, when he reached Agi'a in his flight, he could only muster 2000 men, all the rest of his army had perished or been dispersed. Three days after, Aurungzebe and Murad made their appear- ance, and took immediate possession of the capital. Dara was not in it, for, oppressed with grief and shame, he had hastily quitted for Delhi, but Shah Jehan was still in his palace. Annmgzebe Aiu'ungzebe's coursc was already determined, but policy did not allow him his father, all at oucc to tlirow off the mask, and he spent some days in sending humble messages to his father, justifying his proceedings on the plea of necessity, and endeavouring to obtain the sanction of them. His object, probably, was to leave his father in nominal possession of the throne, while he retained all the powers of government in his own hand. Shah Jehan, however, was not to be thus won over. Dara's misfortunes only gave him a stronger hold than ever on his affec- tions, and he refused to concur in any proposal for disinheriting him. Auinmg- zebe, thus made aware that he could only possess the crovra as an usiu^er, did not hesitate to make his father a prisoner and assiune the reins of government. Murad, who had been dreaming; of the crown, soon found that he was onlv his brother's dupe. As soon as Aurungzebe had no further use for him, he invited him to supper ; and, after feasting him till he was in a state of helpless intoxi- cation, stripped him of his arms and placed him in confinement. Character Shah Jehan was allowed to remain in his palace, where he continued to live
jeiian's for SBvcu ycars. Much outward respect was shovm him, but a strict watch was '^*'^" kept on his movements, and he was entirely excluded from all share in the
government. The energy and talent which he had displayed dming the gi*eater part of his reign appear to have entirely forsaken him, and he made no effoi-t to regain his freedom. It is remarkable that no attempt at rescue was made from without. His reign had been long and prosperous, and his subjects had , enjoyed a degree of happiness to which they had previously been strangers. His wars, carried on for the most ])art on the outskirts of his dominions, had
