New History of the Marathas v1.c16.97

v1.c16.97

(6) *The contemporary English merchants of Surat wrote,—* “Shivaji is the fairest friend, noblest enemy, and the most politique Prince.” “He will continue victorious even to a miracle.” “Shivaji Raja, ambitious to be famed mighty conqueror, marched into Karnatak and with a success as happy as Caesar’s in Spain, he came, he saw, and he conquered. He has taken two very strong Ghurs or rocks, being no less dexterous thereat than Alexander the Great and become master of Bijapur. He has vowed to his God never to sheath his sword till he has reached Delhi and shut up Aurangzeb in it. It is too well known that Shivaji is a second Sartorius and comes not short of Hanniball for stratagems. He loved his country but was not partial to any one. He had many Muslims in his service and the head of his navy was a Muslim. But he could not tolerate the conversion of his Hindu brethren to either Islam or to Christianity. The underlying reason for his vengeance upon Aurangzeb was the religious policy of that monarch.”