Muntakhab al-lubab 55: Siege of Bijapur raised.

55

Raja Jai Singh, in obedience to orders, raised the siege of Bijapur. Knowing that the forts which he had taken could not be held after his departure, through want of provisions on the inside, against the swarms of Dakhinis outside, he resolved to abandon them. He took out of them such guns as he could carry away. Then he gave the forts up to plunder, and afterwards set fire to them, and blew up the strong towers and walls. Then he proceeded to Aurangabad. Information now reached him of the flight of Sivaji, and, in obedience to the Imperial command. he arrested Nathuji and his son, and sent them to Court. * * On arriving there, Nathuji was ordered to be kept under close surveillance. Seeing no other chance of escape, he expressed a wish to become a Musulman, which greatly pleased the Emperor. So he was initiated, and received a mansab of three thousand and two thousand horse, with the title of Muhammad Kuli Khan. After some time, when he returned to the Dakhin with reinforcements for Diler Khan, he recanted, and seized an opportunity to join Sivaji.