Muntakhab al-lubab 109: Death of Ram Raja.

109

[Text, vol. ii. p. 468.] The news-writers now reported that Ram Raja, after meeting with some reverses in his raid upon Birar, was returning to the hills of his own territory. On his way he died, leaving three sons of tender years, and two wives, Soon afterwards it was announced that the eldest son, a boy of five years of age, had died of small-pox. The chiefs then made Tara Bai, the chief wife, and mother of one son, regent. She was a clever intelligent woman, and had obtained a reputation during her husband's lifetime for her knowledge of civil and military matters. Tara Bai proceeded to the hills of difficult approach.
On receiving this intelligence, the Emperor ordered the drums of rejoicing to be beaten, * * and the soldiers congratulated each other, * * saying that another prime mover in the strife was removed, * * and that it would not be difficult to overcome two young children and a helpless woman. They thought their enemy weak, contemptible and helpless ; but Tara Bai, as the wife of Ram Raja was called, showed great powers of command and government, and from day to day the war spread and the power of the Mahrattas increased.