[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [General history and culture](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general) › [The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.burn-1937) › v4.c19.204 # The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c19.204 The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c19.204 - **Language:** English ### [v4.c19.204](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.burn-1937.v4.c19.204) ‘Alī ‘Ādil Shāh perceived the necessity for subduing Shivājī and sent against him an army under the command of Afzal Khān, whose objective was the stronghold of Partābgarh, to which Shivājī had retired. The story of Shivājī’s duplicity on this occasion is well known. Having secretly made arrangements to entrap the Muslim army, a measure perfectly justifiable in civilised warfare, he succeeded, by professions of submission and by promises, the fulfilment of which would have gained his victim great credit with his master, in enticing Afzal Khān to a private interview at which each was to appear armed only with a sword and attended by a single follower. Shivājī descended from the fortress armed, to all appearance, with only a dagger, but he wore armour beneath his clothes and held concealed in his left hand the weapon known as the \*wāghnākh\*, closely resembling the claws of the tiger, from which it is named, and consisting of four curved claws of steel, attached to the first and fourth fingers, beneath which they are hidden, by rings. When embracing Afzal Khān, who was clad only in muslin, Shivājī ripped open his belly with the claws and at once stabbed him with his dagger. His secret armour turned the sword cut which the wounded Muslim instinctively dealt him and Shivājī and his follower soon despatched Afzal Khān’s gallant attendant. The Marāthā troops, obedient to a signal, sprang from their concealment on the unsuspecting army of Bījāpur, overpowered and dispersed it without difficulty, and enriched their master with its spoils, including horses, elephants, camels, treasure, arms and munitions of war. - [Previous: v4.c19.203](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.burn-1937.v4.c19.203) - [Next: v4.c19.205](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.burn-1937.v4.c19.205) - [Up: v4.c19](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.burn-1937.v4.c19) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.burn-1937.v4.c19.204](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.general.burn-1937.v4.c19.204) · Pramāṇa