New History of the Marathas v1.c17.91

v1.c17.91

11. Tragic death.—The Emperor received the news of Sambhājī’s capture at Akluj, where it caused a wild outburst of rejoicing. A great terror had been lifted from the hearts of the imperialists. The Emperor felt that this success had put the crown on his recent victories over Bijapur and Golkonda, and now afforded him the cherished satisfaction of returning to Delhi in the triumph of a completed task. He at once left Akluj and proceeded to Bahadurgad, where the captives were brought under the guard of Hamid-uddin Khan. By the Emperor’s orders the captive Maratha King was made a mark of public ridicule. Four miles outside the encampment Sambhājī and Kavi Kalash were dressed as buffoons in long fools’ caps with bells fixed on them, mounted on camels and brought to Bahadurgad with drums beating and trumpets pealing. Hundreds of thousands of spectators lined the roads gazing at these unhappy captives, as if they were a kind of wild beasts or demons. Thus degraded they were slowly paraded through the entire camp, extending over miles in length and finally brought to the Emperor, who then sat in full Darbar for the occasion. At the sight of the prisoners Aurangzeb descended from the throne and kneeling down on the carpet bowed his head to the ground in double thankfulness to the Giver of this crowning victory. After he had a quiet look at the prisoners, they were removed to their cell.