Muntakhab al-lubab 36: Sivaji murders Afzal Khan Bijapuri.
Muntakhabu-l Lubáb, of Kháfí Khán (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 36
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- English
Sivaji murders Afzal Khan Bijapuri.
36.1
When Sikandar 'Ali 'Adil Khan came to years of discretion, and took the government into his own hands, he wrote letters to Sivaji, but without effect. He then sent Afzal Khan with a large army to chastise the rebel. Afzal Khan was one of 'Adil Khan's most distinguished and courageous officers, and he pressed Sivaji hard. The truculent rebel, knowing that he could gain nothing by regular warfare, artfully sent some of his people to express his repentance, and to beg forgiveness of his offences. After some negociation, the deceitful brahmans made an agreement that Sivaji should come to wait upon Afzal Khan at a certain place under his fortress with only three or four servants and entirely without arms. Afzal Khan likewise was to proceed in a palki, with four or five servants, and without arms, to the place agreed upon under the fort. After Sivaji had paid his respects, and verbal agreements had been made, he was to receive a khil'at and then be dismissed. When Afzal Khan had taken the proffered tribute and peshkash, Sivaji was to entertain him, and speed him on his way back to Bijapur, or rather he would attend him thither in person upon an assurance of reconciliation. The designing rascal by sending various presents and fruits of the country, and by his humbleness and submission, conciliated Afzal Khan, who fell into the snare, believing all his false deceiving statements, and observing none of that caution which the wise commend.
36.2
Without arms he mounted the palki, and proceeded to the place appointed under the fortress. He left all his attendants at the distance of a long arrow-shot. Then the deceiver came down on foot from the fort, and made his appearance with manifestations of humility and despair. Upon reaching the foot of the hill, after every three or four steps, he made a confession of his offences, and begged forgiveness in abject terms and with limbs trembling and crouching. He begged that the armed men and the servants who had accompanied Afzal Khan's litter should move farther off. Sivaji had a weapon, called in the language of the Dakhin bichua, on the fingers of his hand hidden under his sleeve, so that it could not be seen. He had concealed a number of armed men among the trees and rocks all about the hill, and he had placed a trumpeter on the steps, to whom he said, "I intend to kill my enemy with this murderous weapon; the moment you see me strike, do not think about me, but blow your trumpet and give the signal to my soldiers." He had given orders to his troops also that as soon as they heard the blast of the trumpet, they should rush out and fall upon the men of Afzal Khan, and do their best to attain success.
36.3
Afzal Khan, whom the angel of doom had led by the collar to that place, was confident in his own courage, and saw Sivaji approach unarmed and fearing and trembling. He looked upon his person and spirit as much alike, so he directed all the men who had accompanied his litter to withdraw to a distance. The treacherous foe then approached and threw himself weeping at the feet of Afzal Khan, who raised his head, and was about to place the hand of kindness on his back and embrace him. Sivaji then struck the concealed weapon so fiercely into his stomach that he died without a groan. According to his orders, the trumpeter blew a blast of triumph to arouse the concealed troops. Men on horse and foot then rushed forth in great numbers on all sides, and fell upon the army of Afzal Khan, killing, plundering, and destroying. The bloodthirsty assassin rushed away in safety and joined his own men, whom he ordered to offer quarter to the defeated troops. He obtained possession of the horses, elephants, treasure, and all the baggage and stores. He proposed to take the soldiers into his service, and gained them over. Then, as usual, he went on collecting stores and men.
36.4
'Adil Khan of Bijapur, on hearing of this defeat, sent another army against Sivaji, under the command of Rustam Khan, one of his best generals. An action was fought near the fort of Parnala, and Rustam Khan was defeated. In fine, Fortune so favoured this treacherous worthless man, that his forces increased, and he grew more powerful every day. He erected new forts, and employed himself in settling his own territories, and in plundering those of Bijapur. He attacked the caravans which came from distant parts, and appropriated to himself the goods and the women. But he made it a rule that wherever his followers went plundering, they should do no harm to the mosques, the Book of God, or the women of any one. Whenever a copy of the sacred Kuran came into his hands, he treated it with respect, and gave it to some of his Musulman followers. When the women of any Hindu or Muhammadan were taken prisoners by his men, and they had no friend to protect them, he watched over them until their relations came with a suitable ransom to buy their liberty. Whenever he found out that a woman was a slave-girl, he looked upon her as being the property of her master, and appropriated her to himself.
36.5
He laid down the rule that whenever a place was plundered, the goods of poor people, pul-siyah (copper money), and vessels of brass and copper, should belong to the man who found them; but other articles, gold and silver, coined or uncoined, gems, valuable stuffs and jewels, were not to belong to the finder, but were to be given up without the smallest deduction to the officers, and to be by them paid over to Sivaji's government.