New History of the Marathas v1.c17.85

v1.c17.85

The Emperor then conferred a small jagir upon Durgādās and the latter returned to Jodhpur. Akbar's son Buland Akhtar was still in Rājputānā, whom Durgādās kept like a pawn in his hand to serve as a threat in case the Emperor did any wrong to the interests of the Jodhpur raj. Ajit Sinh, the posthumous son of Jashvant Sinh had now come of age and claimed his father's patrimony, but was not yet recognized by the Emperor. Durgādās informed the Emperor that he would deliver Buland Akhtar, provided Ajit Sinh was restored to his father's dominions. This was agreed to and the Emperor was able to recover his grandson only after he had carried out the promises made to Durgādās. In 1689 Ajit Sinh was given a mansab in the imperial army with several Parganas as his jagir. Durgādās on getting letters-patent and being put in actual possession of the lands assigned to him, came to Aurangzeb with Buland Akhtar via Ahmadabad and Surat. Ajit Sinh later grew up to be one of the strong Rajput potentates wielding power and influence in the post-Aurangzeb regime of Mughal decadence. But it was the genius of Durgādās which organized the Rajput opposition that Aurangzeb had to face, no less in intensity than his Maratha enemies. Durgādās died long after Aurangzeb's death and received signal honours from his successors. Durgādās is called the "flower of Rajput chivalry." Rajput mothers pray to God for sons as brave as Durgādās.¹⁰