Riyaz al-salatin 111.4.9

111.4.9

Finding that victory was out of the question, and hearing of some troubles in his own country, Raghoji now prudently withdrew to his own country at Nagpur, leaving in Bengal his friend, guide, and philosopher, Mir Habib, with 3,000 Mahratta and 7,000 Afghan troops. (See Seiru-l-Mutakherin, Pers. text, p. 551). It would seem a despicable moral chaos had at this time seized the country, in which neither religious ties tives. Ali Vardi Khan with a large army again advanced to encounter the enemy. At this juncture, Balaji Rao, son of Baji Rao Pandit, Peshwa and generalissimo of Rajah Sahu, who was young, and had enmity with Raghoji, under orders of Emperor Muhammad Shah, came from the Imperial Capital (Dihli) to Bengal with sixty thousand Mahratta cavalry, to re-inforce Ali Vardi Khan. Mahabat Jang, finding floods of disaster approaching Bengal from two sides, shewed firmness and foresight. He deputed experienced envoys with presents to Balaji Rao, won him over to his side by display of courtesy and sincerity, met him at Birbhum, established friendly relations with him, and both unitedly resolved to drive out Raghoji Bhoslah. Raghoji finding it impracticable to accomplish the object of his mission withdrew to his own country, without gaining his end.