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198 He had been sent towards Sultanpur and Nandurbar to make a diversion against the Imperial forces in that quarter. It was resolved to detach a force to watch this party, while the remainder marched through Khandesh. On arriving at Gharkol, a humble and submissive letter was brought from Bahadur Khan, recounting the services of his ancestors and volunteering to send his son with suitable offerings to the emperor. He also made excuses for his conduct and solicited the kind intercession of Shaikh Farid to avert the consequences of his faults. The Shaikh sent this letter to the emperor and waited for an answer. Akbar sent a gracious reply, offering to forgive his transgressions and to receive him into favour if he would hasten to pay his allegiance.

Marching forward, the army passed over the summit of Sabalgarh and arrived on the confines of Khandesh. Miran had previously advised that the force should be sent to Burhanpur, lest its advance upon Asir should drive Bahadur Khan to desperation. But when this opinion was represented to the emperor, he gave orders that no attention was to be paid to it, and that the army was not to go to Burhanpur, but was to march direct to Asir and invest the place. Accordingly, it advanced to within two or three leagues of the fortress.

On arriving there, it was learned that Miran and Peshrau Khan, who had also been sent by the emperor to Bahadur, after alternately trying persuasion and menace, were unable to make any impression upon him, and had retired from Asir to Burhanpur. From thence they reported the failure of their mission and left the