Muntakhab al-lubab 100: Death of Santa Ghorpura.

100

[p. 445.] The death of Santa at this time was a great piece of good fortune for Aurangzeb. The exact particulars of his death are not known; but I will relate what I have heard from men of credit who were with the army. Ghaziu-d din Khan Firoz Jang, who had been sent to chastise Santa and other robbers, was four or five marches from Bijapur. * * Intelligence was brought that Santa Ghorpura, with an army of 25,000 horse, was at a distance of eight or nine kos. * * Firoz Jang marched towards Bijapur, and when he was eight or nine kos distant from the city his scouts brought him word that there was a quarrel between Santa and Dahina Jadu, both of whom were senapatis, or generals, * * and they were constantly trying to get the better of each other. Santa was very severe in the punishments he inflicted on his followers. For a trifling offence he would cast a man under the feet of an elephant. Many of the Mahratta chiefs had ill-blood against him, and they had conspired with Dahina Jadu, by letters and by messengers, to get rid of him. Hanumant Rai, a sardar of distinction, at the instigation of Dahina Jadu, made an attack in concert with Jadu's army upon Santa. Dahina had also won over the great officers who were in company with Santa. They plundered Santa's baggage, and several of the principal rawats of his army went over to Hanumant. Many of his men were killed and wounded, and he himself, being deprived of his power, fled to the hills and his own mawals. * *
On receipt of orders from Aurangzeb, Firoz Jang went in pursuit of Santa. Dahina Jadu's army pursued him on the other side. Santa's forces were entirely separated from him and dispersed. Nagoji Mane, a Mahratta sardar, had served for some time in the Imperial army, but subsequently joined his own people. This part of the country was his native land. Several years before, Santa had thrown a brother of Nagoji under the feet of an elephant, and this had produced a mortal hatred. Under the guidance of his wife, he led a party in pursuit of Santa. He reached a place where Santa, worn and weary, and without attendants, was bathing in a stream. He approached him suddenly, and killed him unawares. He then cut off his head, and, placing it in a bag, fastened it behind him on his horse, and carried it off to Dahina Jadu. On the road the bag fell off, and was picked up by some runners and horsemen belonging to the army of Firoz Jang, who were in pursuit of Santa. The head was recognized, and was carried to Lutfu-llah Khan, commander of Firoz Jang's advanced guard. * * It was finally sent to Aurangzeb, who gave the bearer of it the title of Khush-khabar Khan. The drums of joy were beaten, and the head was ordered to be exposed with ignominy before the army and in several places of the Dakhin.