The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c21.14

v4.c21.14

All this time, owing to Bājī Rāo’s rapid marches, Shāhū had received little news of his position and success, and was frantically writing to him to come back for the defence of his home. From Betāvad, Bājī Rāo turned southwards, crossed the Ajanta range at Kāsār ghāt¹ about 28 February, and like a master strategist ensured the automatic relief of Poona by marching upon the Nizām’s capital Aurangābād. While he was sacking the Gandāpur and Baizāpur districts west of that city, the Nizām evacuated the Poona district, deposited his camp and baggage at Ahmadnagar, and then on 4 March set out in light marching order to overtake Bājī Rāo. But the Peshwā, by his “Cossack-like tactics”, plundered on both sides of the Nizām’s line of advance, stopped his grain supply, and harassed his troops at every difficult place like a watercourse or ravine. At last the Nizām was manœuvred into a broken waterless ground near Palkhed (twelve miles east of Baizāpur and twenty miles west of Daulatābād) and completely hemmed in (11 March). However, after undergoing unspeakable hardship, he cut his way out, but in utter disgust at the worthlessness of his Marāthā allies, he gave up the plan of backing Shambhūjī. Negotiations were opened with Bājī Rāo and a treaty was made at Shevgāon (22 March) by which the Nizām abandoned Shambhūjī’s cause, gave up several forts as security for the payment of the tribute (including all arrears), and made Rambhā Rāo Nimbālkar transfer “the Twelve Māvals” (western Poona and Nāsik) to Bājī Rāo. Shāhū’s collectors were restored to all their former places and the Nizām returned to Hyderābād. It was a complete triumph for Shāhū.