A History of the Mahrattas v1.c17.153

v1.c17.153

During the rapid progress of Aurungzebe’s conquests, the personal inactivity of Sumbhajee is ascribed by the Mahratta writers to the effects of incantations of the magician Kuloosha. The fact appears to have been that Sumbhajee’s habits had become abandoned, and he was generally lost in the stupor or derangement occasioned by a brutal excitement of the senses. He still might be roused to temporary activity; but, although many of his father’s officers, besides the few who were employed, were well qualified to assist at this crisis, they were deterred from acting by the jealousy of Kuloosha or the violence of his master.¹