New History of the Marathas v1.c15.43

v1.c15.43

4. Effort to reclaim Sambhaji fails.—While Shivaji was fighting in the environs of Bijapur against Dilir Khan, he devised an ingenious plan of creating a diversion in the Khan’s rear. He divided his force, himself leading one division and sending Ānand Rāo Makāji to lead the other ; they suddenly struck against the Mughal possessions in the vicinity of Aurangabad. They plundered and devastated Jalnāpur and obtained enormous booty. Many rich residents of the city had taken shelter in the Darga of Saiyad Jan Muhammad, a Muslim saint. When Shivaji obtained news of this concealed wealth, he plundered the hermitage and carried away all the hoard deposited therein. Khafi Khan says that the saint cursed Shivaji for this act, in consequence of which the Raja soon after died.