Storia do Mogor 335.3.4

335.3.4

This great king (Aurangzeb), finding himself so advanced in years, with little hope of living much longer, tried to invent some means of taking the fortresses and lands held by the Mahrattahs. He thought of a deception by which he hoped to raise discord among the Mahrattah leaders. There was in captivity a son of Sambha Ji, whom he (Aurangzeb) had brought up from his infancy. He summoned him to his presence, struck off his fetters, put on him a set of rich robes, and ordered his own son, Kam Bakhsh, to take charge of him. He was accorded his liberty, and the rank of a haft hazari (7,000) was conferred on him. He was given the right to receive one-fourth of the revenues of various provinces in the Dakhin and the two Karnatiks. As for the prince (Kam Bakhsh), he was made lord of the provinces of Bijapur and Gulkandah, as also of all the fortresses in the two Karnatiks. Aurangzeb told the prince he meant to leave him behind in the Dakhin to take his place, intending himself retire to the town of Dihll, there to live at his ease and seek God's favour during the few days of life that remained. This news spread abroad at once in all directions, and many persons rejoiced, hoping thereby to obtain employment. But one year has already gone by without to this day any steps being taken to put this plan into execution.