Shri Shiv Chatrapati Caritr 1.5
Siva Chhatrapati (S. N. Sen) 1.5
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1.5.1
"I am at Pratapgad, you should go there, see me, and fulfil your vows." So said the goddess. It became [known] as the shrine of a living deity. Afterwards, realising that Afzal Khan, who was one of the principal wazirs of Bijapur, had been overthrown and that kingdom consequently weakened, the Raje captured all the forts belonging to the Bijapur state in Talkonkan. Fifty to sixty [27] were taken. Talkonkan was conquered. Varghat also was occupied. Then a mighty force of seven thousand Paga and eight thousand Siledars, fifteen thousand in all, and 12,000 militia (hasm) was mobilised. With the whole of the assembled army Netaji Palkar Sarnobat led an expedition to the Mughal dominions and plundered Baleghat, Parande, Haveli [of] Kalyan, Kulbarga, Avsa, Udgir and territories as far as the valley of the Godavery. Contribution was levied. Lands were confiscated. The suburbs of Aurangabad were plundered. The Mughal Faujdar of Aurangabad advanced and there took place a battle with him. Horses and elephants were captured. The Mughal territory was utterly disturbed. He (Netaji) went on performing such heroic deeds. The Raje appointed officers and framed the following regulations for the management of the forts that had been captured. In every fort there should be a Havaldar, a Sabnis, (and) a Sarnobat, (and) these three officers should be of the same status. These three should conjointly carry on the administration. There should be kept a store of grain and war material in the fort.
1.5.2
An officer called Karkhannis was appointed for this work. Under his supervision [28] should be written all accounts of income and expenditure. Where the fort was an important one, (and) where forts were of extensive circuit, should be kept five to seven Tat Sarnobats (cfZ^T'ttWff). (The charge of) the ramparts should be divided among them. They should be careful about keeping vigilant watch. Of every ten men of the garrison to be stationed in the fort, one should be made a Naik. Nine privates (mk<*) and the tenth a Naik — men of good families should in this manner be recruited. Of the forces, the musketeers (4«$<t0), the spearsmen (fz^ft), the archers (fa^T«0, and the light armed men (*rF5-TOift), should be appointed after the Raje himself had carefully inspected each man individually, (and selected) the brave and shrewd. The garrison in the fort, the Havaldar and the Sarnobat should be Marathas of good family. They should be appointed after some one of the Royal personal staff (^TCTrO had agreed to stand surety (for them). A Brahman known to the personal staff of the king should be appointed Sabnis and a Prabhu Karkhannis. In this manner each officer retained should be dissimilar [in caste] to the other. The fort was not to be left in the hands of the Havaldar alone. No single individual could surrender the fort to any rebel or a miscreant. In this manner was the administration of the forts carefully carried. A new system was introduced.
1.5.3
Similarly Pagas were organised in the army. The strength of the Paga was rendered superior [to that of the Siledar.] The Siledars were placed under the jurisdiction of the Paga. To none was left independence enough for rebelling. To every horse in the Paga was appointed a trooper (Bargir) ; over twenty-five such Bargirs was appointed an expert Maratha Havaldar. (Each body of) five Havalas was named a Jumla. The Jumladar should have a salary of five hundred Hons and a palanquin ; and his Majumdar a salary of one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five Hons. For every twenty-five horses (there should be) a water carrier (पखालजी) and a farrier (नालबंद). A Hazari was (a commander of) ten such Jumlas. To this (office was attached) a salary of one thousand Hons, a Majumdar, a Maratha Karbhari, and a Prabhu Kayastha Jamnis ; for them (was allotted) five hundred Hons. Salary and palanquin should be given to each individual according to this scale. Accounts of income and expenditure should be made up in the presence of all the four. Five such [29] Hazaris should be (united under) a Panch Hazari. To him (should be given) a salary of two thousand Hons. A Majumdar, a Karbhari and a Jamnis should likewise be (attached to) him. These five Hazaris were under the command of the Sarnobat. The administration of the Paga was of the same kind. Similarly the different brigadiers (subhas) of the Siledars also were under the command of the Sarnobat.
1.5.4
Both the Paga and the Siledars should obey the orders of the Sarnobat. With each Hazari and Panch Hazari should be stationed Karkuns for the Vaknisi (news-writing) work, Harkaras (couriers and spies) and Jasuds appointed by the Sarnobat. Bahirji Jadhava, a very shrewd man, was appointed Naik of the Jasuds under the Sarnobat. This man was selected after great scrutiny. The army should come to cantonments in the home dominions during the rainy season. There should be kept stored grains, fodder, medicines, houses for men and stables for horses thatched with grass. As soon as the Dasra was over, the army should march out of their quarters. At the time of their departure, an inventory should be made, of the belongings of all the men, great or small, in the army, and they should start on the expedition. For eight months, the forces should subsist (on their spoils) in the foreign territories. They should levy contribution. There should be no women, female slaves, or dancing girls in the army. He who would keep them should be beheaded. In enemy territories, women and children should not be captured. Males, if found, should be captured. Cows should not be taken. Bullocks should be requisitioned for transport purposes only. Brahmans should not be molested; where contribution has been laid, a Brahman should not be taken as a surety. No one should commit adultery. For eight months, they should be on their expedition in foreign territories.
1.5.5
On the way back to the barracks in the month of Vaisakh, the whole army should be searched at the frontiers of the home dominions. The former inventory of the belongings should be produced. Whatever might be in excess, should be valued and deducted from the soldiers' salary. Things of very great value, if any, should be sent to the royal treasury. If any one secretly kept (any thing) and the Sardar came to know (of it), the Sardar should punish him. After the return of the army to their camp, an account should be made, and all the Sardars should come to see the Raje, with gold, silver, jewels, clothes, and other commodities. There all the accounts should be explained and the things should be delivered to His Majesty. An account of the expenditure upon men in the army should be submitted. If any surplus should be found as due to the contingents it should be asked for in cash from His Majesty. Then they should return to the barrack. Saranjam should be given to the men who had worked hard (in the late campaign). If any one had been guilty of violating the rules or of cowardice, an enquiry should be made and the truth ascertained with the consensus of many and (the offender) should be punished with dismissal. Investigation should be quickly made. For four months they should remain in the barracks and on the Dasra day they should wait on the Raje. (Then) they should march out to the country, selected for the expedition, by the order of the Raje. Such were the rules of the army.
1.5.6
Similarly, among the Mawles, there was one Naik for every ten men. Over (every) fifty men or five Naiks there was a Havaldar. Over two or three Havaldas there was a Jumledar. Over ten Jumlas there was a Hazari, the Jumladar had a salary of one hundred Hons per year. (He had) a Sabnis who had salary of 40 Hons. The Hazari got a salary of five hundred Hons. His Sabnis's salary was from 100 to 125 Hons. Such were the terms of the Hazari's appointment. Over seven Hazaris, was appointed a Sarnobat, Yesaji Kank by name. Every body was to abide by his orders.
1.5.7
To the Sarnobat, and the Majumdar, and the Karkuns, and men on the personal staff of the Raje, were given assignments on land revenue, for their salary. The land cultivated by them was taxed like that of the Rayats and the sum credited as [part of] their pay. The balance, of their dues (was paid by) 'barat' (orders) either on the Huzur (Central Government) or on the District (establishments). In this manner were their annual accounts punctually settled. Mokasa Mahals or villages with absolute rights should on no account be granted to the (men in the) army, the militia (Hasham) and the fort establishments. Every payment should be made by varats or with cash from the treasury. None but the Karkuns had any authority over the lands. All payments to the army, the militia, and the fort establishment should be made by the Karkuns. If mokasa were granted, the Rayats would grow unruly and wax strong; and the collection regulations would no longer be obeyed. If the Rayats grew powerful, there would be (rebellions) disturbance at various places. Those, who were given mokasas, if united with the Zamindars, would grow unruly. Therefore mokasas should not be granted to anybody.