Shri Shiv Chatrapati Caritr 22.3

22.3

How will this please him ?" But to the Maharaja he wrote as follows, — "Strengthen your province, mobilise your army and make alliance with the Hindu chiefs. I am coming shortly, after making proper arrangements here. Then arrange to come here but proceed with caution till then." Then Sahaji showed the letter (fit to be shown) to the Badshah and assured him that he had no control over his son. But the Badshah did not believe the Raje as his suspicion had not been removed. At that time Baji Ghorpade was in that province. He was ordered to arrest Sahaji by any means and bring him to the metropolis. The Raje was then at Tanjore near Trivapi. Ghorpade invited him to a dinner and with a show of good feeling took him to his meal. He treacherously arrested Sahaji there and took him to the Badshah. * * * [38] When Sahaji was brought to Bijapur, the Badshah questioned him personally and also through Murar Pant, but he answered that he had no control over his son. Thereupon a recess was made in a wall and a hewn stone was placed at the opening. The nitch was made with sitting space for one man only, and a letter was sent to Sivaji that unless he surrendered their (the Sultan's) territories his father would be dealt with in this manner. They began to take Sahaji out of the recess once or twice daily and then put him back into it. It was settled to block the opening of the recess with the hewn stone on receipt of the reply. The Maharaja began to repent when he learnt this news.