| [[295]] It was
the custom in India for the rulers to take sums from the people who came
to sacred spots to worship, proportionate to their rank and wealth. This
(worship) was called Karma. The shahinshah in his wisdom and tolerance
remitted all these taxes which amounted to crores [=tens of millions].
He looked upon such grasping of property as blameable and issued orders
forbidding the levy thereof throughout his dominions. In former times,
from the unworthiness of some, and from cupidity and bigotry, men showed
such an evil desire towards the worshippers of God.
H. M. often said that although the folly of a sect might be clear, yet as they had no conviction that they were on the wrong path, to demand money from them, and to put a stumbling-block in the way of what they had made a means of approach to the sublime threshold of Unity and considered as the worship of the Creator, was disapproved by the discriminating intellect and was a mark of not doing the will of God. When he had turned away his mind from hunting he resolved to make the journey of eighteen kos [=35-40 miles] on foot, and to arrive in one day at the capital [Agra]. He and some select attendants put the foot of courage on the road, [nine names] and others being of the party. But among these, none except [three] were able to keep pace with him. ===========
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== Akbar-nama
vol. 2 == Abu'l-Fazl == Glossary
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