Shri Shiv Chatrapati Caritr 1.15
Siva Chhatrapati (S. N. Sen) 1.15
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1.15.1
Then, in Bednur was a Lingayat named Sivappa Naik. His city of Basnur (Barcelore) was of great renown. (Sivaji) sent spies to the seacoast, obtained informations (through them), (and) as there was no path for going across the Ghat, the sea-going ships were brought and fitted, and the Raje himself embarked on a ship, and one day suddenly appeared before Barcelore for raiding. The people of the city were off their guard. (He) landed from the ship all at once (and) plundered the city. For one day the city was sacked empty. As he had brought goods by plundering Surat, so [now] he came back to his own country with innumerable goods and property (in) gold, gems, clothes (and) merchandise. [71] (It was found) that property in all to the value of 2 krors of Hons had been brought.
1.15.2
Again there was in the Mughal dominions the big city of Karanja. Information was procured thence, (and) the Raje himself proceeded there taking the force with him. On his way he plundered the peth of Aurangabad. Making a rapid march of seven ganvs (he) went to (and) halted at Karanja for three days, took possession of all the mansions of the city, (and) with shovels dug out (buried) treasures. After taking cash, jewels, gold, silver and rich clothes, he rode (back). The Mughal Subhas at various places, — Dilel Khan, and Bahadur Khan, Ikhlas Khan, and Bahlol Khan and Indramani (and) Omraos like these (from) different places, some with ten thousand, some with twelve thousand (forces) came on (the Raje) from (all the) four directions. He went on, fighting with them (and) offering resistance. He fought many great battles, killed the Mughals, levelled them to the dust, (and) captured and brought elephants, horses, camels (and other) property. And all the enemy's wazirs went back unsuccessful. The Raje reached his dominions in safety with his forces. Dilel Khan with twelve thousand horsemen came up and pursued him, at a distance of ten to twelve gañvs up to the banks of the Bhima. Then the Raje went to Rajgad. The spoils when valued were (found to be) worth seven krors.
1.15.3
Then Rayrigad that belonged to the Adilsahi was captured. The Raje himself went and found that the fort was very fine, the precipices on the four sides looked as if scraped perpendicular, (and were) [72] one and a half ganvs in height. During the rains grass did not grow on the cliff and (it looked as if "it were) one chiselled slab of stone. (So fine was it.) It is true that Daulatabad also was one of the finest forts in the world, but it was less in height. This fort was ten times as high as Daulatabad. The Raje was very pleased to find it so, and (he) said that, this fort should be made the seat of his throne. Resolving thus, he built houses, palaces, state rooms, buildings and a separate mansion for the eighteen departments, and seraglio for the queens, similarly separate quarters and bazar for the Sarkarkuns, separate quarters for Panchhazaris, and dwelling houses for men of note, (different) stables for elephants and horses and camels, and garages for palanquins and chariots, and cowsheds, in that fort with chunam plaster and hewn stones.
1.15.4
The first wife of the Raje, the mother of Sambhaji Raje, died. After her, the Raje married six other wives. Of them Sayera Bai, a daughter of the Mohite (family) became pregnant. A son was born to her. He was born with face downwards. The news was delivered to the Raje. The Raje remarked—" (He) will upset the Badshahi of Delhi." So (he) said. Then the astrologer prophesied, " He will be a great king. (His) fame will be greater than (that of) Sivaji Raje." So he prophesied. Then the Raje named him Raja Ram. And (he) said, " Raja Ram will make his subjects happy. His power will be greater than mine. The fame of his name will be great. If my name is preserved, it will be by him." So (he) said, and performed many deeds of charity. Then Moro Pant Pesal took many new forts from Trimbakgad to the fort of Salheri (and) built many new ones. He captured forty such forts new and old. He subdued Kolawan. (He) annexed the kingdoms of Ramnagar and Jawahir. In those provinces also he built forts. In this manner did (he) distinguish (himself). [73] The Badshah at Delhi learnt all these news, viz., that—" Surat has been plundered, Barcelore plundered, Burhanpur, (and) Aurangabad have been plundered. Salheri and all other forts have been taken. (Sivaji) is establishing (his authority) in the provinces of Khandesh, Baglan, Gujrat, (and) Berar."— Hearing this, he felt much distressed, (and) said,— "What remedy should be adopted? Commanders of lakhs of horse I sent, but (he) overthrew them.
1.15.5
They came back with failure. Whom to send now? If I send a Shahzada then (he) will join in a revolt thither, and take Delhi itself. Therefore none appears fit to be sent, (or) should I myself gird my waist and march against Sivaji? Then what should I do if something like Saista Khan's (affair) happens (to me)? Therefore I shall not leave Delhi so long as Sivaji is alive." So he decided and summoning Ikhlas Khan, a perfect warrior, and Bahlol Khan, sent (them) with twelve thousand horsemen to Salheri. (Their instruction was) to take (and) utterly destroy Salheri. Similarly Dilel Khan was despatched against Ahivant with ten thousand horsemen. Dilel Khan came and beseized Ravta Javta. The garrison defended (it) well. Great fighting took place. The fort did not fall into his hands. Moro Pant Peswa sent twelve thousand Mawles to succour (the garrison). They went (and) made a sudden attack. In this way (they) frightened (the enemy). Ramaji Pangera, a Hazari of the militia, with one thousand men, encountered Dilel Khan below Kaneragad. Deeming a thousand men (a) small (force), Dilel Khan came upon them with his army. Ramaji Pangera made a selection from among his men; and as he selected — bidding those (alone) to remain who would be his companions in a desperate struggle — seven hundred men stood (there with him). They offered a desperate battle. The forces of Dilel Khan dismounted (and) came on (them).
1.15.6
(They) surrounded the Mawles on four sides For a prahar, as sticks beat (on drums) quick and noisily on the Simga day, the Mawles fought. Twelve hundred of Dilel Khan's Pathans were laid low. Then the seven hundred men and Ramaji Pangera, throwing off their turbans and upper garments, and each (of them) getting twenty to thirty wounds from arrows or spears, [74] died. A great battle was fought. Then Dilel Khan wondered for one ghatika with his finger in mouth. After that, Nawab Ikhlas Khan came and laid siege to Salheri, and dismounted below the fort. As the Raje learnt this news, he sent letters and Jasuds to Pratap Rav Sarnobat, whom he had sent into the Mughal dominions with an army, [with the message] "Go quickly with your army by (the) Warghat road to Salheri make a sudden attack on Bahlol Khan, and drive Bahlol Khan away. And Moro Pant Peswa has been sent for from Konkan with the militia (hasams). He will come from this side and you are to come over the Ghats (by the Warghat road). Thus coming from two sides, attack the enemy and (utterly) rout (them)." To this effect were letters written. Thereupon Pratap Rav came with his army by the Warghat road. Moro Pant Peswa came from Konkan. Both of them reached Salher. From one side the cavalry charged on their horses, from another side the Mawles rushed in. And they fought. A great battle took place. For four prahars of the day the fighting lasted.
1.15.7
Mughals, Pathans, Rajputs and Rohilas fought with artillery — swivels carried on elephant and camel. As the fighting began, such a (cloud of) dust arose that for a space of three cosses square, friend and foe could not be distinguished. Elephants were killed. Ten thousand men on the two sides became corpses. The horses, camels, elephants (killed) were beyond counting. A flood of blood streamed (in the battlefield). The blood formed a muddy pool and in it (people) began to sink, so (deep) was the mud. As the slaughter was carried on, not a living horse remained. The horses that were captured alive, numbered six thousand (when delivered) to the Raje. One hundred and twenty-five elephants were taken. Six thousand camels were captured. Goods, treasures, gold and jewels, clothes and carpets (anything spread for sitting on) to sit on, beyond calculation came into (his) hands.
1.15.8
Twenty-two wazirs of note were taken prisoner. Ikhlas Khan and Bahlol Khan themselves were captured. In this manner was the whole subha destroyed. One or two thousand (soldiers) escaped, each man alone. Such was the battle (that took place). In that battle Pratap Rav Sarnobat, and Ananda Rav, and Vyankoji Datto, and Rupaji Bhonsle, and Surya Rav Kankde, Sidoji Nimbalkar and Khandoji Jagtap, and Gondji Jagtap, and Santaji Jagtap, and Manaji More, and Visaji Ballal, Moro Nagnath, and Mukunda Ballal, other wazirs and omraos of less note, exerted themselves hard. Similarly did the Mawle soldiers and Sardars toil hard. The commanders Moro Pant Peswa and Pratap Rav Sarnobat, both (distinguished themselves) by personal valour. And during the battle, Surya Rav Kankde, a Panchhazari of the army, a great warrior, fought with great valour. At that time, he fell struck by a cannon ball. Surya Rav was not an ordinary soldier. As Karna was a (great) warrior in the Bharat (so) was he his (veritable) image ; such a hero fell. Other heroes of note also fell, victory was won after such fighting.