Muntakhab al-lubab 52: Sivaji at the Imperial Court.

52

[Text, vol. ii. p. 189.] Raja Jai Singh, in the war with Bijapúr, to be described presently, had, with the co-operation of Sivaji, done splendid service. After giving Sivaji every assurance of a kind and gracious reception, he made himself responsible for his safety, and sent him to Court. News of Sivaji's arrival was brought as the festival of the accession was being celebrated. It was ordered that Kunwar Ram Singh, son of Raja Jai Singh, with Mukhlis Khan, should go out to meet and conduct that evil malicious fellow into A'gra. On the 18th Zi-l ka'da, 1076, Sivaji, and his son of nine years old, had the honour of being introduced to the Emperor. He made an offering of 500 ashrafis and 6000 rupees, altogether 30,000 rupees. By the royal command he was placed in the position of a panj-hazári. But his son, a boy of eight years, had privately been made a panj-hazári, and Nathuji, one of his relations, who had rendered great service to Rája Jai Singh in his campaign against Bijapur, had been advanced to the same dignity, so that Sivaji had a claim to nothing less than the dignity of a haft-hazári (7000). Raja Jai Singh had flattered Sivaji with promises; but as the Raja knew the Emperor to have a strong feeling against Sivaji, he artfully refrained from making known the promises he had held out. The istikbál, or reception of Sivaji, had not been such as he expected. He was annoyed, and so, before the robe and jewels and elephant, which were ready for presentation to him, could be presented, he complained to Ram Singh that he was disappointed. The Kunwar tried to pacify him, but without effect. When his disrespectful bearing came to the knowledge of the Emperor, he was dismissed with little ceremony, without receiving any mark of the Imperial bounty, and was taken to a house outside the city near to the house of Raja Jai Singh, as had been arranged by Kunwar Ram Singh. A letter was sent to Raja Jai Singh, informing him of what had passed, and Sivaji was forbidden to come to the Royal presence until the Raja's answer and advice should arrive. His son was ordered to attend the presence in the company of Ram Singh.