Akbarnama on Sikhs
Akbar Meets Guru Arjan, 1598
From Abu’l Fa/1, Akbarnama
Translated by Shireen Moosvi
Abu’l FazI in his great history, the Akbarnama ,
reports Akbar’ s visit to Guru Arjan on his final departure from
Lahore in 1598. Abu’l Fazl’s slip in describing Guru Arjan as
leader of a ‘Brahmancial’ sect may be explained by his own
absence from the Imperial Camp at this time, which meant
that he was describing the meeting second-hand, presumably
on the basis of a news-report.
The translation is made from the printed text, ed. Agha Ahmad Ali and Abdur Rahim, Asiatic Society, Calcutta, 1 886, III, p.746. Our version is independent of that of the same passage in H. Beveridge’s translation of the Akbarnama , III, Calcutta, 1921, p.1115.
TRANSLATION
Text, III, p.746
On 13 Azar [4 November 1598] His Majesty crossed the river Beas on an elephant near Gobindwal, while the troops crossed over by a [boat] bridge. On this day, the house of Arjan Guru [spelt ‘Gor’] received fresh lustre through His Majesty alighting there. He is a leader of the Brahmanical faith, the position descending from one generation to another. And he has great store of [spiritual] love. Since his hope [for a visit from His Majesty] arose out of [sincere] devotion, His Majesty accepted his invitation.
