The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c22.7

v1.c22.7

The Sultan of Golkonda, Muhammad Kuli Qutb Shah, nvaded the Vijayanagara territory, with the object of driving Venkata out of his dominions. He marched towards Penukonda "where he arrived without opposition," says the aforesaid chronicler, "and immediately commenced the siege". Venkata, who was at Penukonda, shortly afterwards deputed his minister Gobraj Tima (Govinda Raja Timma) and his general Pavia Chitti (Papaya Chetti) as Ambassadors to the Golkonda Sultan, "who, upon their making due submission, agreed to an armistice preparatory to negotiating terms of peace". The shrewd Sovereign decided to take advantage of this so-called armistice to prepare himself for a long defence. "The Hindus", the anonymous chronicler continues, "taking advantage of the absence of the Muhammadans from the vicinity of the fort, supplied themselves in three days with provisions for a siege; and on the fourth the famous Jagdew Row (Jagadeva Raya), accompanied by Gulrang Setti, Manupraj and Papia Samywar, at the head of thirty thousand musketteers, threw themselves into the fort"¹. It is most likely that at this juncture Venkata requested Achyuta Nayaka of Tanjore to send the prince Raghunatha to his assistance. At his father's behest "Raghunatha started on the expedition followed by hundreds of tributary chiefs", says the *Raghunathabhyudayam*. He reached Penukonda in a few days². When the King discovered these proccedings", continues the Golkonda chronicler, "he renewed the siege; but his forces made little impression. The rains were now approaching, provisions also were scarce in the camp; and aware that the inundation of the Krishna river would cut off all communication with the Golkonda territory, the King deemed it advisable to raise the siege"³. Thus does the Muhammadan writer conceal the humiliating defeat which was on this occasion inflicted by Venkata upon the army of Golkonda.