SAMBHAJIRAJE’S RESPONSIBILITIES

While at Raigad, Sambhajiraje used to get involved in the court affairs every day. On 6 September 1675, a British emissary named Samuel Austin had gone to Raigad to demand compensation for the plunder of Rajapur Factory. This emissary met Maharaj on 7 September 1675. At the time of these negotiations, Sambhajiraje was sitting right beside Shivaji Maharaj, and other officials had been standing on the side.

In 1675, Maharaj seems to have dispatched Sambhajiraje again on war-front. Maharaj attacked Adilshahi realms, and Sambhajiraje had participated in that campaign. This campaign has been described by John Friar. He was a doctor by profession. In 1673, he came to Hindustan. After roaming around at Surat, Mumbai, Junnar etc. places, he went to Karwar from Mumbai and then reached Goa in 1675. In 1676, he was at Vengurla and was travelling to Karwar-Gokarna etc. regions. He wrote,

“In the intervening period, taking advantage of internecine discord amongst Adilshahi sardars, Shivajiraje’s army is simply running haywire wherever they wish. The battalion under Sambhajiraje went right up to Bhaganagar in Golconda Sultanate. Another detachment attacked the Fonda fort near Goa. Shivajiraje’s son plundered some part of Bhaganagar and burnt it down. Suddenly blocked by Bahlaul Khan, he dodged him and took a completely different route to return back. On his way back, he also raided Hubli, Raibaug and other market towns.”

Dr Friar has mentioned this in one of his letters from 1678.

In the month of April 1675, Shivaji Maharaj began the siege of Fonda. At this time, Sambhajiraje plundered a city named Ettageri in the Adilshahi realms, and two other big cities near Bhaganagar, collected huge wealth from there, and took the moneylenders as captive to Shivaji Maharaj at Fonda. Sambhajiraje seems to have especially helped Shivaji Maharaj in the political moves at Goa. After the capture of Fonda, Sambhajiraje had informed the Portuguese at Goa to leave alone the 60 villages falling under its catchment area.

When Shivaji was coronated atop Raigad, Sambhajiraje was given the task of monitoring the various arrangements for guests like the British. This meant, Shivaji Maharaj had never thought twice to ensure Sambhajiraje cultivated the capability to judge good or bad of his own kingdom by investing his mind into important tasks like this. Sambhajiraje had been involved in the relations with the British through some or the other reason. He had received the opportunity to negotiate with them. Even the British at Surat had formed a good opinion about him. They felt, that Shivaji Maharaj and Sambhajiraje would not loot their factories from that point on. The British at Surat had written to their Mumbai colleagues on 10 January 1677,

“However, we are aware that one doesn’t feel assured about Shivaji’s firmans. But he is prospering and his kingdom is increasing, due to which it doesn’t seem possible to suspect that he will rob us in his own kingdom. There doesn’t seem to be any reason to worry even after his death. Because his son already seems to be authorised and has sufficient understanding.”

From the year 1671 when Sambhajiraje was given administrative responsibilities, until the January of 1677, when he went to the British for negotiations, in his movements on the battlefield or in the administrative affairs, it doesn’t seem like he committed any misbehaviour or maladministration. He is seen to be carrying out the responsibility entrusted to him.

Till the year 1670, Sambhajiraje was the one and only son in all of Bhosale family. Due to this, it was natural for Sambhajiraje to be everyone’s favourite until any of his other stepmothers had been blessed with another son. Until then, there was no reason for the relations between Shivaji and Sambhajiraje father-son duo to turn sour, and it doesn’t seem like they did.

On 24 February 1670, Soyarabai gave birth to a son. Shivaji Maharaj was blessed with another son. At the time of coronation ceremony, Sambhajiraje was seventeen years old, while Rajaram was just four years old. Until 1674, meaning until the coronation ceremony was complete, Maharaj’s mother Jijabaisaheb was alive. So, it was natural for the many wives of Shivaji Maharaj, and her daughters-in-law to be in her control, and all the household affairs under her watchful eye. Until then, it was not possible to some untoward thoughts being expressed by someone or any sort of household discord to arise. And it doesn’t seem like there was anything like that. But a few days after the coronation, the very capable Queen Mother like Jijabai, who had retained some kind of control over everyone, from the king to her daughters-in-law all through her existence, personality, and authority, died on 17 June 1674. It was natural for the awe that prevailed over Shivaji Maharaj’s wives, and the link that bound them together to break after this elderly watchful eye vanished.

To be continued…

GAINING EXPERIENCE

It is very important to keep in mind many historical milestones to unravel the intricacies of the various events in this nine-year period, the people who participated in them, and the other events happening around them.

Shivaji Maharaj himself seems to have held firm belief from the beginning, that the huge enterprise he had taken up, should be exposed in its entirety, with all its pitfalls and sliding slopes, to his own son, through his own experience. He had ensured Sambhajiraje was educated on those lines from childhood.

Even though the Yuvaraj had been trained in the art of war since childhood, he seems to have begun participating in battles from the year 1672. Shivaji Maharaj would ask him to lead a largish battalion all by himself. A French traveller has described Sambhajiraje’s courage and skill in war witnessed on his travels in 1668 and 1672. Abbey Carrey who was in Gujarat at this time writes,

“Shivajiraje has divided his army into different parts and has attacked all the enemies around him at the same time… Shivajiraje has given ten thousand such brave soldiers under the command of his son (Sambhajiraje). Trained under a skillful father like Shivaji Maharaj, he has also become an expert in warfare, and could easily equal a much-experienced commander. His build is strong. His looks draw his soldiers to him. The soldiers absolutely dote over him. And they respect him almost equal to Shivajiraje. The only difference is, these soldiers feel especially blessed to fight under Sambhajiraje. All the credit of their capability, they confer upon this young Commander. Whoever displays his prowess, Sambhajiraje is the first one to appreciate. If someone displays courage, Sambhajiraje never forgets to give him some kind of reward.”

Shivajiraje’s army had attacked Ramnagar and Jawhar provinces in January and June 1672 and had captured Ramnagar. Moropant was leading this campaign. Abbey Carrey writes further,

“Sambhajiraje was ordered to attack the kings in Khambayat and Gujarat provinces. He felt really blessed that his father had given him such an important and huge responsibility, and with huge enthusiasm prepared to display special prowess along with his contingents. The people who he wanted to attack, simply ran away just hearing his name. Due to this, he could easily acquire success and fame. He brought a sizeable region under his control in a short span of time.”

While taking education about the administration, Sambhajiraje came in contact with the British factors. He got experienced in the court etiquette in Shivaji Maharaj’s absence, and got an opportunity to interact with foreign emissaries. He came in contact with the British at the age of sixteen years. The British emissary Tomas Nichols had been ordered to enter into a treaty with Shivaji Maharaj, and had been informed, if he could not meet Shivaji Maharaj, then he should meet his son, or any other equivalent official and only then return.

While visiting North Hindustan with his father, Sambhajiraje was first introduced to the imperial behaviour, the style in which sardars lived, their luxury etc. Shivaji Maharaj began his conflict with Bijapur this year (1672), and he entrusted the prime task to Sambhajiraje, and nominated Annajipant to accompany and assist him. From this time, it was decided that Sambhajiraje would live at Panhala. Even Shivaji Maharaj himself would stay at this fort most of his time to oversee the affairs of his kingdom. Shivaji Maharaj used to prefer Panhala over Raigad, when it came to maintaining relations with external states and regions. Since this fort was very convenient, primarily to capture the whole Bijapur kingdom, so even Adilshah used to desire much about capturing Panhala. Since Shahajiraje’s times, Sinhagad’s importance extended only up to the Maval region. Raigad’s primary plus-point was protection, but it was extremely inconvenient for running an administration, and for the traffic of people it generated. So, from Shivaji Maharaj right up to Tarabai, the capital of all the Chhatrapatis had been mostly Panhala in a way. Sambhajiraje spent much of his time there.

To be continued…

SAMBHAJIRAJE’S CAREER

One needs to study the various activities, and motives behind those activities of some prime personalities like Sambhajiraje, Aurangzeb, his son Shehzada Akbar, Akbar’s loyal lieutenant Durgadas Rathod, and Sambhaji’s assistant Kavi Kalash, in the overall history of Sambhajiraje. Sambhajiraje displayed unparalleled aggression in defeating the attempt by some elements to install Rajaram as the next Chhatrapati on the throne after Shivaji Maharaj’s demise; and if he had been able to make use of the situation then, his administration would have been come to the right track. But due to one more conspiracy by some of the ministers to remove him from the throne again, an estrangement grew in Sambhajiraje’s heart for his own people, because of which an atmosphere of distrust spread everywhere.

At the same time, the external politics was seeing a huge and unprecedented upheaval. Emperor Aurangzeb had embarked upon a campaign against the Rajput kings. His own son Akbar had joined the Rajput camp, and had attacked his own father. In the ensuing battle, he was defeated, and had to run away to Deccan taking refuge with Sambhajiraje. He was ably assisted by Marwar’s Durgadas, a brave and creative nationalist. He was instrumental in bringing the Shehzada to the Deccan and engineering a huge political move to join the Maratha and Rajput forces together with the important motive of saving their own religion and country, and defeat bigoted Aurangzeb. To achieve culmination of this plan would have been equivalent to successfully achieving Shivaji Maharaj’s dream of establishing the Hindupadpadshahi (a Hindu Empire). To avoid this huge calamity that befell Aurangzeb, he had to run behind his own son to the Deccan, and he prepared to first vanquish the Marathas in the Deccan, before finishing off the Rajputs in the north. That Aurangzeb’s intention did not get fulfilled even after a continuous struggle of twenty-five years, is the real takeaway of this intense war. In this epic war, the Marathas lost two of their Chhatrapatis, but finally, the daughter-in-law of Shivachhatrapati vanquished that powerful emperor. Of course, from the historic point of view, we won’t just stop at studying only Sambhajiraje’s administration. It was just the first act of the main events that unfolded. Sambhajiraje, Kavi Kalash, Akbar and Durgadas, as per their own ability, put up a very strong resistance in front of the emperor. In all this, the emperor also instigated Janjira’s Siddis, Goa’s Portuguese, Sawantwadi’s Sawants etc. against Sambhajiraje, and himself fought a great war in the Deccan alongside many of his renowned sardars, his three mighty sons, Shah-Aalam, Azamshah, and Kaambaksh, and equally capable numerous grandsons. The moment he arrived in the Deccan, he distributed responsibilities amongst various parts of his army, and attacked Sambhajiraje’s realms on all four sides. Due to this, all nine years of Sambhajiraje’s career were spent struggling with the emperor.

From the perspective of Sambhajiraje’s career, this period of nine years can be divided into two clear parts. The first period up to June 1685 that went in the struggle with the Mughals, and the subsequent second period. In the first period, Sambhajiraje broke the back of various revolts that stood up against him, and put-up passionate resistance against Aurangzeb and the Portuguese. In this epic war, the Badshah himself had to face a kind of ignominious defeat at the hands of Sambhajiraje. With no other face-saving recourse left, he diverted his attention away from Sambhajiraje and engaged his power in the enterprise of capturing Bijapur and Golconda Sultanates first. If taking this opportunity, Sambhajiraje had appropriately followed-up with Shehzada Akbar, and immediately attacked the emperor, it was almost impossible for Aurangzeb to hold his own. But Sambhajiraje did not chose this option. So, the Shehzada’s further life in Hindustan became impossible, and he had to run away to Iran. Due to this, Sambhajiraje was completely exposed alone, and after Aurangzeb captured the Sultanates of Bijapur and Golconda, all he could see was a disheartened and smooth field everywhere. The emperor’s activities, were completely unacceptable to people in the north as well as in the south, and everywhere animosity prevailed against the Mughals. But towards the end, Sambhajiraje was captured by the enemy in a secret raid. Badshah was able to suddenly pounce on him. Even in such a life-threatening situation, he did not quit his passionate nature, and courageously accepted a terrible death. Thus, Sambhajiraje’s nine-year long career was extremely grievous on one hand, while especially congratulatory on the other hand.

To be continued…

GROOMING AS YUVARAJ

Sambhajiraje returned back safely, and the second stage of Shivaji Maharaj’s politics began. In the year 1667, Shivaji Maharaj implemented the erstwhile treaty with the Mughals. According to the terms of this treaty, Sambhajiraje had to again present himself as a Mansabdar for the Mughal army. On 27 September 1667, Sambhajiraje left Rajgad, and arrived in the camp of Shehzada Muazzam. Until 1669, Sambhajiraje was with Shehzada Muazzam. A contemporary account written by Abbey Carrey in 1672 says,

“Yuvaraj Sambhaji is young, but still courageous and brave befitting his father’s fame. He is an expert in the art of war, and extremely handsome. His armies love him utmost, and he is so popular, that even his father would feel jealous.”

This description is written by a contemporary when Sambhajiraje was just twelve years old. Abbey Carrey says further,

“Sambhaji has made such a close friendship with the Shehzada, that there are no secrets amongst them. Shivaji has purposely kept this Yuvaraj near the Shehzada, to ensure he encourages the Shehzada to revolt against Aurangzeb through his soft-spoken demeanour. Sambhaji is carrying out this responsibility very successfully.”

From Abbey Carrey’s assessment, it is evident that, Sambhajiraje had begun to handle shrewd political moves at a young age. Yuvaraj Sambhaji returned to his father in 1669, and began living with his family as before. Rajmata Jijabai had the final authority in Shivaji Maharaj’s kingdom for civil affairs. Sambhajiraje would accompany her. There, in her company, Sambhajiraje learnt to take care of the civil affairs. It was decided, that since Jijabai had grown old, the kingdom’s civil affairs should now be taken care by Sambhajiraje. Accordingly, there was an order issued on 26 January 1671. From 1671 up to 1674, Sambhajiraje ran the complicated civil affairs with excellent success. Of course, Jijabai used to keep a close eye. Slowly, Sambhajiraje’s position at the court grew so much, that the British and Portuguese officials coming to meet Shivaji Maharaj, would also meet Sambhajiraje along with him, and would send him letters expressing gratitude.

The period between 1670 to 1680 of Sambhajiraje’s life were spent as Yuvaraj. From the year 1670, Shivaji Maharaj had begun to educate Sambhajiraje as a Yuvaraj. To give him experience in administration, he gave him administrative responsibilities on the eleventh day of the waning moon fortnight in the month of Magha Shaka 1592 (26 January 1671). He was also given his own separate scribes. Even before 19 September 1671, Mahadaji Yamaji was performing the role of Waknis and Mutalik under Sambhajiraje. Since he had to commute to be present at the Court, he had been given an allowance of 100 hon annually. Shivaji Maharaj himself had written an order on 19 September 1671 to Dharrao Nimbalkar to allocate paper, ink and an assistant for the clerical work.

The overall career of Sambhajiraje deserves an equal amount, rather somewhat more research than that of Shivaji Maharaj. If the complete history of the Marathas is taken into a bird’s eye view, it is clearly visible, that except Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, not a single man has been born in the whole Chhatrapati dynasty, whose personality was as mighty, courageous and brilliant as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj! In this dynasty, after Sambhaji Maharaj, three important rulers took birth who can be named with some reverence, Rajaram Maharaj, Shahu Maharaj II (Satara), and Sambhaji Maharaj II (Karweer). But none of these three could attain astronomical heights in reference to the virtues of Sambhaji Maharaj like valour, bravery, courage and self-esteem. Sambhajiraje had an abundance of noble virtues like courage, might, and love for his nation; even then, one cannot but feel sympathetic towards Sambhajiraje who met a heart-wrenching end, thereby hiding from public knowledge all his efforts in his nine years of administration. The person who struggled hard until the end of his life against many of the enemies like the Mughal Badshah, Siddis, Portuguese to protect the Hindavi Swarajya established by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who never allowed the thought of surrender enter his mind even when being subjected to inhuman torture at the end of his life, and who committed the ultimate sacrifice in the struggle against the enemies, that Shivaji Maharaj’s son, Sambhaji Maharaj was termed by erstwhile historians as a misbehaving king who lost all his kingdom. What more unfortunate incident can one cite in history beyond this! Not only did Sambhaji Maharaj’s reign met a tragic end, but even the historians made it into such a tragedy! The persons and incidents associated with his rule are extremely interesting and recognizing what prevailed in his heart through a birds-eye-view is educative. There has been a great attraction in the Maratha realms about this historic personality of Sambhaji Maharaj. The common Marathi man has been loving him for three hundred years on his prowess, courage, bravery, self-respect, and love for his nation and religion.

To be continued…

CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJI MAHARAJ

When I began the translation of GS Sardesai’s ‘Riyasat Volume 2’ containing the story of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj, I had a lot of apprehension about my ability to make justice with their personalities and inherent qualities. There have been a lot of common right and wrong beliefs that have spread amongst the general public due to the erstwhile accounts provided by Bakhar historians, and then its use by creative artists in their novels and plays. When I was actually in the midst of the translation, I also felt the account by GS Sardesai was strictly based on the resources available to him at that time (around 1920s-30s). There have been many other resources that have been discovered and published afterwards, which recent historians have taken into account. So, I felt that I must go through the account written by at least one other historian who could have written about these two Chhatrapatis. I found the historic literature produced by Dr Jaisinghrao Pawar eminently readable in this respect. So, this series is primarily based on two of the above resources and the resources these two historians must have studied.

One needs to cross two mental barriers to really fathom the character of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. The first barrier is that one needs to understand the way the erstwhile Bakhar writers erected Sambhajiraje’s character, and secondly the way it was made popular by the novelists and dramatists. A quick overview of Sambhajraje’s life that needs to be brought out is as follows.

Shivaji Maharaj was born on 19 February 1630. At a young age, he was married to Saibai in 1641, meaning when he was 11 or 12 years old. Saibai had three daughters first. Her fourth child was Sambhaji. This child was born on Purandar fort on 14 May 1657. Sambhaji was Saibai’s last child. Saibai’s health was delicate at the time of his birth. She fell ill soon after this birth. That was why Sambhaji never got his mother’s milk. He grew up on the milk provided by a milk-mother Dharau. Saibai died on 5 September 1659, which was around two to two-and-a-quarter months before Afzal Khan’s assassination. She had suffered a prolonged illness before she died. When Sambhaji lost his mother, he was very young. He was just about two years old. His childhood went in utmost love provided by grandmother Jijabai. Shivaji Maharaj’s other wives also did not have any son. Maharaj was blessed with a second son Rajaram in 1670. At this point Sambhajiraje was 14 years old. Shivaji Maharaj captured Shringarpur in 1661. Sometime after 1661 and before 1665, Sambhajiraje was married to Yesubai. At the time of their marriage, Sambhajiraje could have been seven or eight years old, while Yesubai could have been four to five years old. It is possible, that Yesubai started living with Sambhajiraje immediately after marriage. It is also evident, that Shivaji Maharaj made excellent arrangements for Sambhajiraje’s education. Sambhajiraje began to write a Sanskrit text ‘Budhabhushan’ before 1677, at the age of twenty. Sambhajiraje studied ancient political scriptures, and collected the axioms from them into this text. In the preface to this text, Sambhajiraje himself says he has studied the art of poetry, other scriptures, Puranas, music and weaponry. There are contemporary and other many accounts available which praise him for his intellect and study. This shows, that Sambhajiraje was indeed very well-educated in Sanskrit. There was a permanent tutor named Umaji Pandit who used to teach Sambhajiraje. Similar to Shivaji, his childhood too was spent around adventure and campaigning. He had personally witnessed Shivaji’s encounters with Shaistakhan and Jaisingh. Sambhajiraje entered into politics on the instance of Mirza Raja Jaisingh. The treaty that was imposed by Mirza Raja Jaisingh on Shivaji Maharaj, had a clause, that Sambhajiraje was to stay in Jaisingh’s camp as a Mansabdar (commander) over five-thousand soldiers. Accordingly, Sambhajiraje arrived in Jaisingh’s camp on 18 June 1666. This meant that Sambhajiraje had to remain hostage for his father’s politics at the age of nine. Later, he had to go to Agra with his father. On 5 March 1666, the father-son duo began the journey towards Agra. On 15 May 1666, Sambhajiraje along with father was in attendance in Aurangzeb’s court to pay his obeisance. Very soon after this, Shivaji Maharaj was put under house-arrest at Agra, but Sambhajiraje was housed with Mirza Raja’s son Ram Singh. He used to visit Aurangzeb’s court along with Ram Singh. The Badshah used to grace Sambhajiraje during these visits. On 17 August 1666, Shivaji Maharaj escaped the house-arrest. He took Sambhajiraje along at this time. But handed him over to Krishnaji and Visaji brothers at Mathura, travelled to Rajgad in a whirlwind twenty-five-day journey and fell ill upon arrival. A ten-or-eleven-year-old Sambhajiraje, having lost his mother already, lived courageously with a relatively unknown family of Krishnaji, right in the heart of enemy’s region, away from his father and grandmother. Thereafter, he accompanied Krishnaji on a journey as per convenience, hundreds of miles on foot, through immense difficulties, reached Rajgad four to five months later. Here, Shivaji Maharaj had already spread a rumour, that Sambhajiraje could not withstand the hectic journey and died, and also performed his last rites. Due to this, the Mughals stopped looking for them. His father had performed his last rites even while he was alive, as a political move. After Sambhajiraje returned back, Shivaji Maharaj himself said,

“If we had not pretended that Sambhaji had died by performing his last rites, then it would have been difficult for Yuvaraj to travel back.”

To be continued…

FAREWELL

The marriage ceremony was over. Maharaj engaged in infinite charity on the occasion of marriage.

One, two, three days passed after marriage. Thirteenth day of the waning moon fortnight of the month of Falgun dawned. Some shadow started threatening the sun in the sky. New moon came near. The powerful sun got an indication of that terrifying shadow. The shadow began inching towards it to engulf it!

New moon night in the month of Falgun arrived, and it was the day of an eclipse of Suryanarayana! The eclipse began Five hours and fifty minutes before the sunset. This was the beginning time. The total eclipse was two hours and forty minutes before the sunset, and the sun would be free afterwards! But the moment the sun was free, it set! Raigad saw the total eclipse for just nine-and-a-half minutes (on new moon day of the waning moon fortnight of the month of Falgun, 20 March 1680).

On the occasion of this solar eclipse, Maharaj, as was his usual religious tradition, would have definitely engaged in ritualised charitable donations, bathing etc. However, history doesn’t know anything about them.

And after this, in one or two days, Maharaj got some fever! The fever began increasing! Maharaj fell ill! The illness worsened! In just about four days! There was no dearth of medicine. People who would die for him were around. Soyarabaisaheb, Rajaramsaheb were also there.

Maharaj’s health did not recover! The concern started increasing day by day! Nobody could diagnose the illness. Fever had not left his body. The countenances of loyalists who would take care of Maharaj even more than their own lives, started getting helpless. Each night, each morning, and each afternoon started bringing with it increased concern. Maharaj, however, was absolutely calm. But he had realised, that this was his invitation!

Maharaj was just fifty years old and – and not even a month had gone past beyond that. But his body was completely tired due to constant toil of fifty years. Now he only wanted some quiet sleep!

Fourteenth day of the waxing moon fortnight in the month of Chaitra dawned (Dt 2 April 1680). Maharaj was convinced, that his time was nigh! He was very serious, but calm. He could hear the footsteps of Death. Now Maharaj was drawn towards his home. So many of his beloved people had gone ahead of him! Tanhaji, Baji, Dadajipant, Suryaji, Blessed Queen Saibaisaheb, Prataprao and Aaisaheb herself had gone ahead. Now what more remained?

And the full moon day of the waxing moon fortnight of the month of Chaitra dawned! This was the birth anniversary of Lord Hanuman (Dt 3 April 1680). It was Saturday. Maharaj started on his journey! Going! Sahyadri’s Maharaj was leaving! Shivneri’s Shivaraya was leaving! Maharaj belonging to Swarajya’s children, brothers and sisters-in-law, animals and birds, everybody, everybody was leaving! Maharaj was going, after putting all of them in a habit of loving him for fifty years, making them crazy! Raigad was drowned in the shadow of grief. Maharaj was leaving at just fifty years of age? How did this happen! How did that Parameshwar become so cruel? What crime had Swarajya committed that it had to now become an orphan?

So many of his beloved colleagues at the fort, Ramchandrapant Amatya, Gangadharpant Hanmante, Raoji Somnath, Balprabhu Chitnis, Hiroji Farzand, Babaji Ghatge, Baji Kadam, Suryaji Malusare, Mahadji Naik Pansambal etc. had become plaintive in concern and grief. Nobody could understand what to do, what to speak.

Maharaj called all his, rather, Swarajya’s relatives near him. Everybody came. Nobody could utter a single word. However, Maharaj was calm. He was about to take the final – yes absolutely final – farewell from everyone! Maharaj said to everyone,

“My time is near! I will now go to Mount Kailasa and meet the Creator!”

And it was as if the dam of grief broke. Torrents of tears started flowing through everyone’s eyes. Everybody’s hearts started lamenting. No words could come out of their mouths. These were such great people! But even their hearts began overflowing with torrents of miserable tears. Such was life. Sahyadri’s peaks and Swarajya’s forts with their fearless ramparts started crying hoarse.

Maharaj!

Maharaj!

But Maharaj said to them in an absolutely calm manner, “Don’t grieve. This is the realm of Death. Whoever has taken birth here, has gone. Now you all clean your minds and stay calm. All of you now sit outside. I will meditate upon God.”

Such mental preparation! Pushing away all bonds of temptation, forgetting all happiness and grief, Maharaj had started on his final great journey! Maharaj had started on the Southern Digvijay! Yes, it was a huge, huge Digvijay. But he was leaving all of his colleagues permanently, drowning them in an ocean of tears, and he was going! Maharaj bade farewell to everyone!

Everyone stepped out. It was twelve noon.

And meditating upon the Creator, Maharaj held onto the finger extended by Death! Leaving behind the kingdom, forts, elephants, horses, wealth everything he had acquired till today, leaving behind the love of relatives, family, and friends he had picked up till today, throwing away all the success and fame that he had acquired till today, leaving behind all the parasols, imperial insignia, throne, and epithets that he had held, never turning around to look behind even once, Maharaj, holding Death’s finger, left slowly but surely! And Shivabharat came to an end! What more should one write? No words left.

The End.

FINAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Maharaj returned after meeting Sambhajiraje, but the dark shadow that had engulfed his heart did not get removed completely. This painful niggle permanently made its home in his heart. At this time, he went and met Shree Samarth atop Sajjangad. After this, he also wrote a letter to Samarth and consulted him. He also sought the well-being of Shree Mouni Baba Patgaonkar. He arranged for the annuity of the temple there.

Sardars, Commanders, and ministers in his council had been engaged in campaigns and battles. Some or the other activities had been taking place at places like Dharangaon, Mustafabad alias Chopada, Malkapur, Janjira, Khanderi etc. Success and failure were both being experienced at different places to different degrees.

Maharaj’s own household was large. But familial bliss was insufficient. He had had to bear trouble due to Soyarabaisaheb’s bickering, was still bearing it. Rajaramsaheb was the younger son. He was just ten years old. Meaning he was still young and innocent. Elder son had a different story. He had six daughters. But barring Harjiraje Mahadik all other sons-in-law were very common men. All his daughters were married. Now it was just Rajaramsaheb’s Upanayan and marriage ceremony were pending. Once those two were done, Maharaj would get free from his familial duties. Aaisaheb left and Maharaj’s familial bliss had slid down. But Maharaj did not pine in hope of renewing it. He would never even bring that subject in his mind, remaining satisfied at the degree of happiness the Creator had given him.

After his own mother, Maharaj got real love from his beloved friends. There were people who laid down their own lives for him. There were people who would live just for him. Such invaluable men! They came from varied castes, ages, nature. But even in them, most old colleagues had left. Death! Such a terrible word! Extremely terrible! Death in fact rules over this whole world. He is the invincible emperor, the bounds of his empire are invisible. Eternal universe!

Maharaj’s original nature was patient, thoughtful, and serious. But since Aaisaheb left, the incidents so followed each other, that he had gone on to become more and more serious. As man grows into an adult, it becomes difficult for him even to express his grief in front of someone. Whom should he express it with? Everybody would be younger than him. Then who would give them support? He would need to keep all miseries, pangs in a corner of his heart quietly. Never to speak about them. Because that expression would cause the happiness of younger people to go sour. No cribbing. No talking. Keep only ears open. Once the eternal friend calls, bid farewell to everyone and leave this world with the friend. This friend was named Death! This friend is extremely terrifying to look at. Everybody fears him. But he is really loving. His one call has the blissful power to free a man from all his troubles in just a snap.

Maharaj decided, to carry out Rajaramsaheb’s Upanayan and marriage. Chiranjeevsaheb had now completed ten years of age. Maharaj had identified one very good girl as daughter-in-law. Whose daughter? Younger daughter of Late Commander-in-Chief Prataprao Gujar. Her name was Janaki. Prataprao Gujar had got incensed about one word from Maharaj, attacked Bahlaul Khan virtually single-handed, and had died in that battle. Maharaj had been singed by the memory of this incident for long. But what was there to do now? Prataprao’s sons were serving the Swarajya ably and respectfully. But Maharaj decided, Rao’s daughter should also become a Goddess in Raigad’s palace. She should become a daughter-in-law for Chhatrapati himself.

Very soon Maharaj carried out the Upanayan ceremony for Rajaramsaheb, and thereafter he was also married to Prataprao’s Janakibai (Dt 15 March 1680). Maharaj’s new relation Late Prataprao Gujar was not present in the marriage function! But Maharaj had made him into a relation even after his death! The marriage ceremony was completed with due enthusiasm. Only, there is a tradition of the two fathers to gift each other a coconut, and embrace each other accepting each other as part of the new relationship, that meeting could not take place!

To be continued…

DISCRETION RETURNS

During this time when Sambhajiraje had defected to the Mughals, the whole Swarajya had been getting shaken to the core like a ship on high seas. Still Maharaj had been utterly dutiful and alert about it. He had not bent. The rudder of the ship had been safe and active in Maharaj’s hands day and night. Around the same time (Dt 6 September 1679) Maharaj had visited a place in Konkan near Alibaug named Thal. At this time the commanders of the Maratha navy Maynak Bhandari, Daulat Khan, Ventaji Bhatkar etc. were accompanying him. Maharaj decided to build a new sea-fort on the Khanderi island visible in the sea from ashore, and entrusted the responsibility to his Admiral. Khanderi’s construction began. It was impossible for the British Deputy Governor at Mumbai, Angiers to sit quiet. He unleashed the British navy over Khanderi. A huge battle began. And the British were defeated hands down (Dt 12 September 1679).

Maharaj’s exhausted body kept on striving for Swarajya. After driving away Diler from Bijapur, Maharaj began his attacks on the Mughal realms. He unleashed Anandrao over the Maan and Sangola provinces, and himself embarked on a campaign to Jalnapura (Dt 4 November 1679).

Jalna is towards Aurangabad’s east. There was a landed fortress there. The fortress is named Mastagad. The town was very wealthy. It was like an ornament to the Mughal realms. Maharaj started towards Jalna. Before he began, he met a saint named Taanpathak. He had blessed Maharaj, that he would secure success. Maharaj suddenly pounced upon Jalna. And completely plundered and sacked it (around Dt 16 November 1679). Mughal sardar Ranamasta Khan attacked Maharaj. But Maharaj defeated him hands down. Khan himself was captured alive! But then additional reserve force of Sardar Khan and Kesar Singh gave Maharaj a chase. This was a new calamity that had fallen. Mughals began to draw near. It was a huge concern. So Bahirji Naik said assuring Maharaj,

“Avoiding these Mughals (I will) take the army (along with you) to our place. You don’t worry!”

And Bahirji with all his skill ensured that Maharaj, the whole plunder, and the army reached Patta dodging the Mughal forces. ‘Patta’ was one of the forts. Bahirji was a secret agent. He was well-aware of the secret routes and passages. Patta fort is eight kos towards Akola’s northwest. All this running around had been on for three days and three nights. Maharaj became very happy with Bahirji (Dt 22 November 1679).

Another terrible scheme had reared up its head in Aurangzeb’s mind. His mouth had begun watering seeing that Shivaji’s brave son had fallen into his hands. But this gentleman did not think of using Sambhaji’s bravery and his position of Yuvaraj for his own benefit. He simply thought he should imprison Sambhaji and bring him to Delhi! What would he do after capturing him? That did not need to be told! Torture him, beat him, and tell him to ‘Convert!’ Poor Aurangzeb did not know any other political move. His whole intellect was wasted in deception. He would get extremely eager to imprison and capture people who had joined his service on their own. He had done the same thing with Netoji as well. But those who did not understand this lowly politics were the real guilty ones.

Aurangzeb sent a secret message to Diler, “Arrest Sambhaji and send him to Delhi!”

And this news was relayed to Sambhajiraje himself! Now his eyes had opened with a loud bang. In the same camp, his brother-in-law Mahadaji Naik Nimbalkar also served. He also scolded Sambhajiraje in piercing terms, and told Raje, “You run away immediately!” But he was not alone. Yesubaisaheb and young daughter were also with him. He was concerned how he would leave. Finally, Yesubaisaheb dressed up as a man, and in the middle of a dark night, Raje ran away along with his family (Dt 20 November 1679). He went straight to Bijapur. Bijapur’s Vazir Masood received him heartily. Maharaj’s people were also constantly keeping a watch to somehow bring Sambhajiraje back secretly. The moment Diler realised that Sambhaji had run away, he was beside himself in anger. He immediately dispatched his emissary Khwaja Abdur-razzaq to Masood asking for Sambhajiraje to be handed over. But Sambhajiraje escaped from there too, and joined the people who had been sent by Maharaj to bring him back safely (Dt 30 November). From there Raje rode incessantly taking very few stops and reached Panhala (Dt 4 December 1679).

Hearing that Sambhajiraje had returned Maharaj was overjoyed. He started from Raigad to meet his Yuvaraj at Panhalgad.

Maharaj reached Panhalgad. A repenting Sambhajiraje after experiencing the Mughals came in front of his father. What would Maharaj have felt seeing him thus? Child, where had you lost your way?

He was extremely concerned about Swarajya’s young age, his own body’s failing condition, and the power of his enemies. In that this bitter incident had taken place. Whatever happened, he was a human being. Maharaj gulped down his son’s mistakes like poison with huge fortitude. To his repenting son, avoiding any bitter words, Maharaj just said,

“Son, don’t leave me. Aurangzeb is a lifelong enemy to us. (He had planned) to betray you. But you escaped through Shree’s blessing. This is a huge achievement. You have become big now. And I have understood that you intend to rule over a kingdom now. In fact, I like it. So, I will give you a kingdom. I have two sons. So, I will divide my whole kingdom into two parts. One kingdom around Chandi. It expands from Tungabhadra to Kaveri. The other one from Tungabhadra to Godavari. You are elder. I will give you the kingdom of the Carnatic. The kingdom here (in Maharashtra) I’ll give to Rajaram. Both of you rule your own kingdoms. And I will retire at Shree’s feet.”

To this Sambhajiraje replied in all humility,

“I just want your feet Saheb. I’ll eat whatever I get and live meditating about your feet.”

At least for now, the slick of poisonous quarrel that had spread all over Swarajya had been driven away. What was written in the future, time only would know. Maharaj arranged for Sambhajiraje’s residence at Panhala. He gave stewards like Janardanpant, Sonaji Banki, Umajipant etc. for his wherewithal, and bidding him farewell Maharaj started back from Panhalgad.

To be continued…

MAHARAJ RESCUES BIJAPUR

After this, Diler and Sambhajiraje embarked on a campaign to Bijapur. The Vazir position of Bijapur was now in the hands of Siddi Masaud alias Masood (Siddi Johar’s son-in-law). Seeing Diler Khan himself coming, Masood got frightened. Whom to call for help now? Who else was there? Only Maharaj. Masood earnestly called for Maharaj’s help. Maharaj too sent an assuring and encouraging message back to Masood. He immediately dispatched a force of ten-thousand men to protect Bijapur. His message to Masood was, “This is my task now. You strengthen your fort and rest assured! I will myself come and destroy Diler,” and after dispatching the ten-thousand strong force, Maharaj himself started as well.

Very soon he and Prime Minister Moropant reached near Bijapur (Dt 31 October 1679). Maharaj had a great desire to directly enter Bijapur and meet Badshah Sikandar Adilshah. It was due to his original motive to strengthen the united front of the southern rulers. He, in fact, relayed his desire to Vazir Masood as well. To this Masood replied, “You are definitely welcome to meet the Badshah. But come with only five hundred of your cavalrymen.” Maharaj decided to go. But Moropant stopped him. He feared, even if Masood and Maharaj were aligned together against the Pathan Diler today, who knows Masood might betray remembering old feud! So then, Maharaj too dumped the thought. He sent only one message back to the Badshah, “Badshah should rest assured. I will defeat Diler.”

Very soon Diler reached. The fight ensued. Marathas started plundering and raiding Khan’s provisions and had harassed him. Completely annoyed, Khan finally lifted his siege of Bijapur and went to Tikote (Dt 14 November 1679).

For the timely help provided by Maharaj, Adilshah sent ample money, elephants, and horses to him, and wholeheartedly thanked him. A treaty was agreed between Bijapur Sultanate and Maharaj. In it, Adilshah provided his approval to all the erstwhile Bijapur-controlled regions captured by Maharaj in his southern campaign.

Diler and Sambhajiraje went to Tikote. Diler began a terrible torture of the subjects there. He made hundreds of Hindu men and women into slaves. To save their modesty many women jumped into wells along with their children!

And seeing all this, Sambhajiraje was repulsed, angered. He could not understand what was happening, and why. In his anger, he told Diler to stop all this oppression immediately! Khan retorted back arrogantly to Sambhajiraje, “I will do what I want! I have full authority! Who are you to object?”

Sambhajiraje’s trance was broken in one loud clang! Nobody had arrogantly asked him ‘Who are you?’ till today. Not even Phirangoji. Even when he had joined the enemies, people had surrendered Bhupalgad. They had obeyed his orders. And this Pathan was asking, ‘Who are you?’

And thoughts started spinning in his head like a tornado. Who are you? Actually, who was he? Maharashtra’s Yuvaraj! A cub of sovereign enthroned Raja Shivachhatrapati! Maharashtra’s future Chhatrapati!

Sambhajiraje was shaken to the core. His discretion began returning.

To be continued…

BHUPALGAD & PHIRANGOJI NARSALA

Sambhajiraje had become a servant of Diler Khan. Yuvaraj had begun following Diler. Diler had found himself holding such a powerful weapon, that he began thinking about uprooting the whole Shivashahi kingdom using that weapon. He started dreaming about using Sambhaji to introduce a split, revolt, and treason in the Maratha kingdom. But not a single one of the sardar, minister, Subedar, Thanedar, castellan went over to Sambhajiraje, or the Mughals! Shivashahi remained unbroken.

Maharaj had spent quite some money on one of the stronger forts of Swarajya and quite some provisions had also been stored there. Diler’s attention was drawn towards this fort. The fort was named Bhupalgad. This fort was in the eastern part of the Satara province. Phirangoji Narsala was the castellan of this fort. Khan turned his forces, along with Sambhajiraje to Bhupalgad. The army reached beneath the fort. Overnight, Khan arranged for some cannons to be driven up one of the smaller hills beside the fort, and the very next day (Dt 2 April 1679) since nine o’clock in the morning he opened up a barrage from these cannons on to the fort. Phirangoji also began his resistance. The battle began in earnest. Hundreds of men were killed on both sides. When the Mughal attack came, probably Phirangoji did not know that Yuvaraj Sambhajiraje himself was part of that enemy army. He was struggling passionately. Many of the families around the fort had taken shelter in the fort to save themselves from the Mughal attackers. A huge responsibility had fallen over Phirangoji’s soldiers. He was posing a bitter challenge. And this bitter resistance was being met even when Sambhajiraje himself was fighting on the side of the Mughals.

Sambhajiraje himself then came right up to the front of the battle lines. His own master standing in the front! Sambhajiraje himself! The army at the fort was confused! Even Phirangoji was stuned. What to do now? How to fire the cannon? How to open-up a barrage over the master himself? Phirangoji was somehow stretching himself for fifteen days. But the moment Sambhajiraje came to the front, all his resolve melted away. Courage was there, but nerve vanished! The castellan Phirangoji and Sabnis Vitthal Bhalerao decided, ‘Master himself is ordering from ahead; how to not comply with his order? Let us hand over the fort. He is the master. The people at the fort are his own subjects. They are his concern too. Let us hand over the fort and go to Maharaj!’

And overnight the castellan Phirangoji and Vitthalpant Bhalerao abandoned the fort and went to Maharaj.

The next day dawned (Dt 17 April 1679). The Marathas atop the fort opened the gates of the fort! Sambhajiraje and Diler Khan ran to the top of the fort in extreme passion and happiness. But there was no resistance. The Marathas atop Bhupalgad had surrendered to their master with folded hands. Their master! Diler and Raje stormed the fort, and an order was passed to cut one hand each of the Marathas who had surrendered in front of their own master complying to his own orders! Around seven hundred Maratha hands were chopped off! The remaining people were imprisoned and sold as slaves!

Phirangoji and Sabnis came to Maharaj. He came to know the whole story. Maharaj’s heart was burnt black.

Thereafter Maharaj dispatched express orders to all his forts, ‘Fight, wholeheartedly attack the enemy with cannons! Do not surrender your forts!’

Diler Khan destroyed the ramparts of Bhupalgad! He ensured that the fort won’t remain useful! The fort which Maharaj had built to protect Swarajya was blown away in front of Sambhajiraje’s eyes.

To be continued…