New History of the Marathas v1.c11.38

v1.c11.38

The Jaipur letters and Thevenot’s account tally in a great measure and may together be taken as the substantial truth. The perfidious conduct of Aurangzeb in inducing Shivaji to come to Agra and then trying to encompass his death through foul means was highly reprehensible. He was too timid to perpetrate the deed boldly. He was afraid of the public opinion which was none too favourable about his past conduct towards his father and brothers. Putting Shivaji to death in open violation of a sacred promise of the Emperor, would have quickly made Aurangzeb’s name odious throughout India.