The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c19.110

v4.c19.110

After two severe battles of this kind, he forced his way to within 12 miles of Bījāpur fort (7 January). But meantime the ‘Ādil Shāhī capital had been rendered impregnable by strengthening its garrison, devastating the country around for 6 miles, draining all the tanks, filling up all the wells and cutting down every tree in its environs. At the same time a picked force under Sharza Khān and Sīdī Mas‘ūd made a diversion by raiding the Mughul territories in the rear of the invaders. Jay Singh’s sole chance of success lay in his taking Bījāpur by surprise, as he had bribed most of its nobles and his rapid march was expected to give the Bījāpurī forces no time to adopt measures of defence. He had, therefore, brought with him no heavy artillery or siege material. The hope of capturing Bījāpur by a *coup de main* having vanished, the baffled Mughul general decided on retreat (15 January), which he could do only after fighting two severe battles besides almost daily skirmishes. Netājī Pālkar deserted to ‘Ādil Shāh; Shivājī failed with heavy loss in an assault on Panhālā and Qutb Shāh sent a large force to the rescue of his brother Sultān. After moving about in the Sultānpur-Dhārūr-Bhūm-Bhīr region, constantly harassed by the enemy and often suffering heavy losses to his detachments, without being able to effect anything decisive, Jay Singh returned to his headquarters (Aurangābād) on 6 December, after complete failure, incurring the severest financial loss. The Bījāpurīs now retired to their own country. The unlucky general was censured and recalled by his master and died, broken-hearted from disgrace and disappointment, on the way at Burhānpur (12 July, 1667).