Shri Shiv Chatrapati Caritr 51: Sivaji's Death.

51

S.D. [458] The Maharaja was practising austerities and had ceased going to his harem. One day, while the Maharaja lay reclined, he was informed that the Bai Saheb wanted him. The Maharaja entertained no suspicion and went in. The Bai gracefully placed her head at the Maharaja's foot, and placed a plate of betel leaves before him. This was the first time she offered betel leaves. The Maharaja said, — Thirteen months have elapsed since the death of my mother. Till to-day you did not think of betel leaves, how did you suddenly remember it to-day ? I have given up the habit." But the Bai offered them again with oaths of various sorts. The Maharaja thought in his mind, — "None dies with the dead. What was ordained has happened. My first wife too is gone. In none do I notice any capacity for undertaking the management of my household. But what can I gain by not fulfilling a loving desire ? Why should I not please her ? " The Raja accepted the leaves. Then he was requested to sleep there but the Maharaja paid no heed to her and slept outside. This disgusted the Bai, "I too have faithfully dealt with him from my childhood. He has known my character. But he has no affection for me, that is why he has left me and slept outside." So thought the Bai and asked the women of the harem to suggest any remedy that might influence him [459] and offered to give them money or whatever they might demand if they could by any means make the Raja love her and listen to what she might say. (Thereupon all sorts of magic were tried) * * * *. One day the Bai said to the Raja, — "Your elder son is the rightful heir to the throne, but he cannot pull on well with the officers. My son is still young but he enjoys your Majesty's affection. Tell me whether you will confer the inheritance to the throne on him or on the elder son." Thereupon the Maharaja answered, — "It is your wish that I should die and the kingdom should pass over to somebody else. If God wills so, it is all right. But you do not entertain in your mind the desire that I and you should jointly enjoy this monarchy. It is better that I should not henceforth come to you. So it has come to this pass. All depends on Ram's will." The Raja then got up to leave. The Bai got angry, she was first a woman and secondly she enjoyed power and had no senior. The idea that her son and not Sambhaji should have the kingdom got hold of her mind. For the Maharaja she expressed only outward affection, but in her mind she wished his death. The Maharaja watched her mood and one day said to the Swami (Ramdas), — "Thanks to your blessings all my desires have been fulfilled. Now it will be good if Ram kindly summons me to his feet. I can no longer bear the separation from my mother. [460] My younger wife does not wish that Sambhaji should get the throne. She spoke to me wishing to give it to her son. It seems that at heart she wishes that I should die soon. Oh Swami! It is not good to live when others wish that one should not live. What is the good of living when my own wife is anxious for my death" * * * The Raja then summoned Balaji Baba and ordered him to send the following letter to every fort. "If any order is issued to you to do any illegal act without any information to the Government, then do no obey it. You should see whether it is in my handwriting and then do what is needful, but you should take no notice of any symbols." * * * * * [462] Although there was no deficiency of anything (as if the goddess of wealth herself was present), evil intention grew in the mind of the Bai Saheb and she administered poison to the Raja. * * * * The Maharaja did not feel happy since the death of Sai Bai Saheb. And he had become indifferent to worldly affairs since the departure to Kailas of Jija Bai Saheb. Sayra Bai Saheb became only the apparent cause of his death.