New History of the Marathas v1.c10.52

v1.c10.52

The night attack on Poona, however spectacular, did no material damage to the Emperor. During the rainy season of 1663 Shivaji's spies and agents were busy watching the northern Mughal territories between Poona and Burhanpur and picking out the weakest point for a fresh infliction, as open war had now broken out between them. He sent round a band of clever spies, obtained correct details of the Mughal dispositions far and near, and then made up his mind to strike at Surat and raise such a huge fire in the breast of the Emperor that his reputation would be for ever darkened, as the poet Bhushan puts it. The plan was kept a closely guarded secret. Nobody knew where Shivaji was going. He gave out that he was proceeding to the south, but actually moved towards the north.