Later Mughals v2.c16.s9.12

v2.c16.s9.12

The attempt to hinder Baji Rao's march was a failure,[*] partly for want of time, and partly from the defection of Nasir Jang's Mahratta allies. Although Jaswant Rao Dhabariya the senapati and his officers and also Raghuji Bhonsla of Nagpur kept aloof from him, Baji Rao was still able to assemble an army of eighty thousand men with which he crossed the Narmada by way of Khargona near Punashah [in the Nimar district]. At that time Nizam-ul-mulk was at Sironj. In December 1737 the two armies came into contact near Bhupal. Instead of boldly advancing on his enemy Nizam-ul-mulk took up a strong position in the neighbourhood of the fort with the tank on his rear and a rivulet [or nullah] on his front. This excess of caution was fatal; the Mahrattas had believed themselves to be overmatched; but now they at once assumed the offensive.* They plundered up to the very lines of the army.