New History of the Marathas v1.c10.74

v1.c10.74

Shivaji's plan was to prevent Ghorpade from joining Khawas Khan in an attack upon Kudāl. Learning that Shivaji was rapidly coming upon Mudhol, Bāji Rāja left the place and boldly came out to meet him with his whole following. A sanguinary action ensued in which Bāji and several of his officers lost their lives. Shivaji then captured and plundered Mudhol and secured an amount of wealth that had been accumulated there through many prosperous years of peace. Shivaji had no time to lose, because he was anxious to dispose of his next opponent Khawas Khan, who had left Bijapur for Kudāl. Māloji Ghorpade the youngest son of Bāji was installed as the Chief of Mudhol,¹¹ and Shivaji immediately afterwards turned to the direction in which Khawas Khan was reported to be moving. The latter was suddenly attacked, about which the Dutch factors wrote, "Sivaji had gone to Khānāpur with the pick of his men to plunder it and that in doing so he had passed Khawas Khan's army within a mile without that lord's stirring.¹² The Khan got so severely wounded that he soon died and lost 200 men besides all the cash. Shivaji leisurely plundered Khānāpur, Hubli etc. and sent off the goods in due security.¹³ Shivaji himself wrote about this encounter, "Thereupon Khawas Khan marched upon me, and I on my part answered his charge vigorously. A stiff battle ensued in which the enemy was completely routed and ran back to Bijapur after losing some brave commanders under him. I then turned to punish the Sāwant for his wanton desertion of my cause, plundered my territory and captured his forts and towns. As the Portuguese sheltered him I blew their fort of Ponda with gunpowder and captured it by sheer force. They negotiated for peace and gave me some guns. Pitāmbar Shenvai came to me as an envoy of peace to treat both for the Sāwant and the Portuguese. I annexed half the territory of the Sāwant and restored the other half to him. I reminded him that he was a son of the Bhosles and ought to join me in saving our country and religion."¹⁴