The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c20.10

v4.c20.10

While Shambhūjī was absorbed in drinking and merry-making with a small escort and in utter carelessness at Sangameshwar, twenty-two miles from Ratnāgiri, he was surprised and captured by an energetic Mughul officer named Muqarrab Khān, who had made a forced march from Kolhāpur. With him were captured his minister Kavi-Kalash and twenty-five of his chief followers (11 February, 1689). At Bahādurgarh, the two chief captives were brought to the imperial camp and publicly paraded dressed as buffoons with drum and trumpet. Shambhūjī was offered his life if he would give up his forts and divulge the hiding-places of his treasures; but he loosened his tongue in scurrilous abuse of the emperor and his Prophet and asked for one of his daughters to be given to him. After being tortured and mutilated for twenty-four days, Shambhūjī and Kavi-Kalash were hacked to pieces limb by limb on 21 March.