Storia do Mogor 281.6.3

281.6.3

The general Zu,lfiqar Khan, of whom I spoke at the beginning of this volume (III. 2), was in charge of the campaign against Shiva Ji (the Mahrattahs). He was the son of Asad Khan, chief minister of Aurangzeb, and in his army was a crowd of Hindu princes serving under him. One of these, named Achep-nar (? Ajai' Punwar), a handsome and wealthy young man, made an offer to the general that in a short space of time he could capture the great fortress of Singy (Jinji), within which Shiva Ji (i.e., Ram Raja, Mahrattah) had taken shelter. The project did not suit Zu,lfiqar Khan's views. Success in it would have ended the war, and with it his own power. Thus he always brushed the proposal aside. The young [15] prince, disgusted at these delays, addressed himself direct to the king, and offered to make him master of the place in eight days by his own troops alone. Unfortunately the letter fell into the hands of the wazir, the general's father, who never hesitated to suppress it, foreseeing quite well what would be the consequences to his son. Without any delay he wrote to him about what was going on, and warned him directly on receipt of that letter to kill the 'wolf' for fear he might ruin everything. As soon as Zu,lfiqar Khan had learnt this news, he sent for Achepnar (? Ajai, Punwar) on the pretext of having something to tell him. Immediately the poor prince appeared he was bound, and orders were given to cut off his head.