New History of the Marathas v1.c11.47

v1.c11.47

The news of this most thrilling dramatic achievement quickly resounded throughout the country. Every Indian home began to talk of the contrast,—a small slim figure all alone in that famous historic hall of Agra facing the mightiest and the most awe-inspiring monarch seated on the exalted Peacock Throne, surrounded by all his power and dignity. The incident sent an indescribable thrill throughout India and filled every Hindu breast with new hope and fresh courage on behalf of downtrodden humanity. Shivaji's reputation reached its zenith for having outwitted the wiliest and the mightiest Mughal Emperor. He at once became an all-India figure. His arrival in the homeland was hailed with peculiar joy, and grand celebrations were held throughout the Deccan. The forts pealed out salvoes of artillery announcing the event. As these *feu-de-joies* became unrestrained, Shivaji later on circulated standing orders prescribing the exact number of gunfire for specified important occasions. He rewarded all those individuals who had served him in his sore trial, Nirāji Rāoji, Bālāji Avji, Hiroji Farzand, Raghunāthpant Korde, and Trimbak Sondev and others. Sugar was distributed in all forts in memory of the event. Shivaji was happy to find that his affairs had been satisfactorily conducted during his absence. The Mughal troops were harassing the land, but not a single act of treachery or desertion was noticed among Shivaji’s officials, disclosing thereby to what perfection and order he had raised his State and his Government within a few years, and how the previous chaos and confusion had been removed.