The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c18.42

v4.c18.42

While these arrangements were being concluded with the feeble kings of Golconda and Bījāpur, more trouble was being experienced in subduing the hardy Marāthās. As he approached Daulatābād the emperor despatched one force under Khān Zamān to occupy the home land of Shāhjī south and south-east of Ahmadnagar and afterwards to clear the Konkan of Marāthās. Another division under Shāyista Khān invaded the districts north and west of Ahmadnagar. Shāyista Khān’s enterprise was successful and he rapidly won over a Marāthā leader and a Muslim commandant serving under the nominal Ahmadnagar ruler, and his troops stormed or compelled the surrender of a number of forts. Khān Zamān found himself opposed to Shāhjī, who had crossed the line of his advance and was making for Parenda to join the Bījāpur forces, followed by Khān Zamān. When Shāhjī passed over the Bhīmā and entered Bījāpur territory where Khān Zamān had been ordered not to follow him, the latter halted. Receiving permission later, he took Kolhāpur and plundered Mirāj and Rāybāg though constantly harassed by the Bījāpur troops. While he halted on his return journey northwards he received news that Bījāpur had submitted to terms and he was ordered to take Junnar from Shāhjī, to whom an offer of service was made by Bījāpur if he would peacefully surrender his fortresses. Shāhjī, however, continued to hold out after the treaty with Bījāpur had been concluded and a further campaign was necessary to reduce him, which was prolonged by the setting in of the rainy season. Khān Zamān invested Junnar, but Shāhjī made rapid marches and counter-marches, evading both the Mughul troops and the Bījāpur forces which were now co-operating with them. Finally Shāhjī took refuge in a small fort, and after sustaining a siege by the combined armies, and haggling long over terms, he surrendered all his strongholds and agreed to enter the service of Bījāpur. Early in 1637 when Aurangzīb returned to court to be married, he brought with him the boy whom Shāhjī had set up as ruler of Ahmadnagar and had made over to the Mughul general when he surrendered. The boy was imprisoned in Gwalior, where there were already two of his predecessors.