Shri Shiv Chatrapati Caritr 45.4

45.4

Jewels, elephants, horses and palanquins, etc., were presented to Vyankaji Raje. * * * [311] Then Samji Naik, Konher Pant and Sivaji Pant were despatched with a letter to Vyankaji Raje. The purport thereof was as follows, — "You should give me my share of our patrimony. Although I spoke to you personally about it you kept silent. But you are like a son to me. It is not nice that I should, as your elder, speak direct to you about it. I gave you hints in various ways but you took no notice of them. I am sending these three men and you should make a clear settlement before them. If you do not, I will not give up my share but you shall be compelled to surrender it. If you behave yourself properly, the question of any deficiency in the share is only a family matter." [312] When Vyankaji got this letter and understood that the Maharaja's expedition had gone back, he held a council with four of his principal officers and asked for their advice. "These three men have come to demand the share." — he said — "During our father's life-time Sivaji Maharaj rebelled against the Badshah and forcibly took possession of the imperial territories. Our father on that account suffered in various ways. I remained with my father and behaved obediently and so the Badshah preserved our property. It is not an ancient hereditary gift that he demands a share. Share can be claimed of ancient watans alone. But this property is held on service tenure.