New History of the Marathas v1.c17.37

v1.c17.37

The contact of these two strange figures, Sambhājī and Akbar, could not under the circumstances be expected to be helpful to either, although at heart they both ardently wished to support each other in their common endeavour to put down the Emperor. But how was Sambhājī to put implicit faith in the professions of a dearly loved son of his father’s bitterest enemy? Might he not be a spy specially employed to put the valiant Maratha prince off his guard, and thereby encompass the ruin of the newly established Maratha raj, now that the great Shivaji was no more? Sambhaji’s own domestic situation, already difficult and depressing enough, was not calculated to inspire trust in others, much less in a princely guest of Akbar’s type. Sambhaji had no friend or confidant to advise or guide him in matters of state. He well knew he was disliked by everybody ever since his father’s days, and could expect obedience only at the point of the sword. On the other hand, Akbar’s advent into Maharashtra particularly at an inhospitable season, without previous notice or expectation, was too much for poor Sambhaji to afford either comfort or convenience to his worthy guest. Possibly they did not know even each other’s language wherein they could freely express their sentiments. Sambhaji’s minister Kavi Kalash was the only common medium. The four rainy months were utterly wasted in preliminary talks. When they ended, Sambhaji and Akbar had their first formal meeting on 13th November 1681.